Harrat al-Birk
| Harrat al-Birk | ||
|---|---|---|
 Harrat al-Birk volcanic field on a satellite image |
||
| height | 381 m | |
| location | Asir Province , Mecca , Jazan , Saudi Arabia | |
| Coordinates | 18 ° 22 ′ 0 ″ N , 41 ° 38 ′ 0 ″ E | |
|
||
| Type | Volcanic field | |
| rock | basalt | |
The Harrat al-Birk volcanic field ( Arabic حرة البرك, DMG Ḥarrat al-Birk ) is located in the southwest of Saudi Arabia , in the border region of the provinces Asir , Mecca and Jazan . It is the only Saudi volcanic field that extends directly on the Red Sea and is covered by extensive lava fields over an area of around 1,800 km² . It separates the Tihamat asch-Scham and Tihamat Asir coastal plains on the Red Sea.
The volcanic activity can be traced back to the Miocene , the extensive lava fields from this era enclose a number of cinder cones that were formed in the Holocene . Generally, cinder cones can be found all over the Harrat al-Birk area. To the east of the main lava field are isolated ash fields, which are grouped around the Jabal Ba`a chimney and suggest an eruption phase within the last few centuries.
The rocks of the quaternary lava fields consist of a basaltic to trachyte-basaltic composition, with ultramafic inclusions.
source
- Harrat al Birk in the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution (English)