1. Sarah Huggins and Erin McLaughlin
Mount Vesuvius
Sarah Huggins and Erin McLaughlin

2. Mount Vesuvius Location: Italy Height:1,281 m Type: Stratovolcano
Age of Rock: 25,000 years
Major Eruption: 79 AD
Last Eruption: 1944

3. Location Located in southwest Italy near the Bay of Naples
Latitude: 40 degrees, 49 minutes North
Longitude: 14 degrees, 26 minutes East

4. 79 AD Eruption Earthquakes began on February 5, 62 AD
Small earthquakes started on August 20, 79 AD
Erupted on August 24, 79 AD
Eruption lasted 19 hours

5. Damage from 79 AD Eruption
Cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum were covered in ash
Ash from eruption reached as far as Africa
Ash caused pestilence
About 2,000 people were killed
Excavation began in the 8th century by the order of Charles III

6. Other Eruptions 5960 BC and 3580 BC 1631 1794 1906
1913, 1926, 1929, 1944
There are no signs of unrest at the present time

7. Geology of Vesuvius Tephrite rocks Basaltic in character
Contains the minerals: calcic plagioclase, augite, and nepheline or leucite

8. Other Facts Vesuvius rests on a subduction zone
African plate is moving northward
Slowly closing the Mediterranean Basin
African plate is pushed beneath the Eurasian plate

10. Resources
Microsoft Encarta, “Mount Vesuvius” Microsoft Corporation