Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira are the peaks that make up the Kilimanjaro ranges. These volcanic cones are stratovolcanoes. The Shira cone is the lowest at an altitude of about 4,005 meters above sea level, then the Mawenzi at an altitude of about 5,149 meters above sea level. This is the simple Geology of Kilimanjaro.
The Kibo peak is the highest of them all. Kibo peak is believed to be dormant and could erupt in the future while Mawenzi and Shira are dormant volcanoes.
The Kilimanjaro Mountain is the tallest mountains in Africa and also among the biggest stratovolcanoes in the world. A stratovolcano is a mountain formed by vulcanicity with a serious of lava and ash laying on top of each other.
This is caused by the volcano going through a series of volcanic eruption phases. The Kilimanjaro covers an area of about 388,500 hectares and has an altitude of about 5895 meters above sea level.
How was the Mount Kilimanjaro Formed?
Geology of Kilimanjaro? It is believed that Mountain Kilimanjaro was formed over 3 million years ago. It was formed by the process of Vulcanicity as molten magma as forced through a vent to from molten rock when it reached the surface which later turned into the Kilimanjaro Mountain.
The mountain erupted several times to make it bigger and that’s the current Kilimanjaro that we see today.
Will Mount Kilimanjaro Erupt again?
Geology of Kilimanjaro is made up of three volcanic cones Namely; Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Each has its own fault line. With many eruptions from over a thousand of years ago, the volcanic power of this cone is believed to have died out.
The Shira cone, which about 16,000 or 17,000 feet high is believed to have died about 2.5million years ago. It is believed that after its extinction, the cone collapsed to form the current Shira plateau.
The kibo and Mawenzi cones are believed to have first erupted about 1 million years ago and they formed a ridge between them since they are so close to each other.
It is believed that Mawenzi died about 450,000 years ago. By this time it was at about 18,000 feet above sea level
The Cones Mawenzi and Shira are believed to be completely dead but he highest peak which is Kibo is believed to just be dormant will at some point in time erupt according to research.
There has not even any conclusive evidence of any volcanic activity in recent years. But there is definitely activity that is no conclusive that is going on in the mountain Chambers.
In the year 2003 there was reports of molten magma still flowing but down in the cones at about 400m. Since then, then has not been any noticeable activity.
