There have been no reports of further activity at Mount
Tongariro overnight as scientists, like everyone else, wait to
see what the volcano does next – and it could be a long wait
with the next burst of activity coming with little or no
warning. Volcanologists are today awaiting results of the
analysis of ash samples from Monday night’s eruption taken to
Massey University for analysis. Ash covers a track after Mount
Tongariro erupted on Monday night. Mount Tongariro erupted at
11.50pm on Monday sending ash and rocks up to 1km into the air.
Scientists are now looking for clues to the origin of the
eruption, thought to be a steam eruption, caused by rising magma
heating groundwater to the extent the steam pressure blows out.
Vulcanologist Steve Sherburn says by putting the ash under the
microscope they hope to tell if there was any magma involved.
Tongariro’s first eruption in a century came after a sporadic
increase in earthquakes, but the eruption itself was unexpected.
The mountain’s seismic drum showed no e