"Ash emission from Crater 2 resumed near the beginning of September after about two weeks of mainly white and blue vapour emission in late August. Significant ashfalls occurred W and N of the volcano, particularly in the first three weeks of September. Glow and ejections of incandescent lava fragments from Crater 2 were occasionally observed, and rumbling and explosion sounds were heard throughout the month. Crater 3 activity continued to be weak, consisting of weak emissions of white vapour.

"Seismicity fluctuated in strength. Several seismic events had the appearance of Vulcanian explosion earthquakes (from Crater 2), but the main feature of the seismicity in September was prolonged periods of discontinuous tremor, probably representing periods of ash emission. Frequent small brief seismic events began to be recorded at mid-month."

Geological Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila. Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the summit. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.

Information Contacts: C. McKee, RVO.