| Balut Volcano | |
|---|---|
| Balut Island | |
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Balut Island
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| Elevation | 862 m (2,828 ft) |
| Prominence | 862 m (2,828 ft) |
| Location | |
| Location | Sarangani, Davao del Sur |
| Geology | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Central Mindanao Arc |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
Balut Island, also known as Balut Volcano or Sanguil, is a volcanic island south of the tip of Davao del Sur province in the Mindanao region, Southern Philippines.
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Balut Island, the westernmost of the Sarangani Islands, is the larger, higher, and better cultivated than Sarangani Island. In the center of the island is Balut Volcano, which is fumarolic on occasion. With an elevation of 2,828 feet (862 m), if seen from the northwest, it appears between two peaks. Near the southwest point there is another volcano and in the southeast part is Ten Seventy Hill with an elevation of 1,083 feet (330 m). The north and east coasts are bordered by a reef, which in some places extends out over 1 mile, while on the south and west sides the fringing reef does not extend out to any distance. Off the southwest point is a rock 40 feet high. Lajan Point, the northeast point of the island, is low and covered by mangroves.[1]
Balut island rises to about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) from the seabed with the highest elevation at 862 metres (2,828 ft) asl. Base diameter is 8 kilometres (5.0 mi).
Balut is classified by Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology as a potentially active stratovolcano with solfataric activity.
There are no reports of eruptions in historical times. The January 4, 1641 eruption which enveloped most of Mindanao in darkness was falsely attributed to Balut volcano, as well as to other volcanoes in the Philippines. Later studies proved that the eruption came from Mount Parker, 80 kilometres (50 mi) NW of Balut Island.[2]
Rock type on the volcano is predominantly basalt and andesite. Balut is part of the Central Mindanao Arc, an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. All volcanoes in the Philippines are part of the Pacific ring of fire.
Like most volcanoes in the former Sultanate of Sulu, Balut Sarangani is little studied scientifically.