Mount Binuluan

Mount Binuluan (also known as Ambalatungan) is a remote volcano in the Kalinga province of the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines. The 2,329-metre-high (7,641 ft) mountain is part of the Cordillera Central mountain range on Luzon island, the largest island in the country. Binuluan exhibits active volcanism through numerous fumarole fields, solfataras and hot springs on its slope. There were reports of possible eruptions in 1952 and 1986 (or 1987), but they are unverified.

Mount Binuluan
  • Mount Ambalatungan
  • Mount Binubulauan
Mount Binuluan as viewed from the village of Bangtitan in Upper Uma, Lubuagan
Highest point
Elevation2,329 m (7,641 ft)
ListingActive volcanoes in the Philippines
Coordinates17°18′22.4″N 121°5′38.6″E 
Geography
Binuluan Volcano
Binuluan Volcano
CountryPhilippines
RegionCordillera Administrative Region
ProvinceKalinga
City/municipality
Parent rangeCordillera Central
Topo map7277-IV
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Volcanic arc/beltLuzon Volcanic Arc
Last eruption1952 (?), 1986 (?)
Climbing
First ascentUnknown
Easiest routeUnknown

Geography

Mount Binuluan [Bin-oo-loo-ahn (Lubuaganyen dialect)] is one of the highest peaks in the area. The mountain is surrounded by the municipalities of Lubuagan, Pasil and Tinglayan in Kalinga province.

Pasil River Valley northwest of Mount Binuluan with the slopes of Binuluan in the foreground

Southeast of the mountain is the Chico River flowing from southwest to northeast direction, while due northwest of the mountain is Pasil River, also flowing from southwest to northeast direction merging with Chico River just past the mountain. Mount Binuluan belongs to a range of mountains situated between the two rivers, trending southwest to northeast. Just southwest of Binuluan is Mount Mosimus 2,178 m (7,146 ft), followed by Mount Cauitan 2,569 m (8,428 ft) and Mount Alchan (Alchanon) 2,567 m (8,422 ft), the 19th and 20th tallest mountain in the Philippines.[1][2] South of this line of mountains are Mount Chumangil 1,996 m (6,549 ft) and Mount Patoc 1,819 m (5,968 ft), the other volcano of the Central Cordillera Range displaying strong fumarolic activity.

Geology

The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program list Binuluan under Ambalatungan Group. The dacitic little-known cluster of volcanoes [called Ambalatungan by Alvir (1956)[3] and the Philippine Commission of Volcanology (1981), and as Mount Binuluan by Wolfe (1982)] was described as consisting of three volcanoes constructed along a roughly E-W line. Binuluan volcano contains a steep-walled crater with hot springs and vigorous sulfur-encrusted fumarolic vents that produce loud noises. Bumabag volcano, 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Binuluan, has two craters that also show strong fumarolic activity. Podakan volcano, 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) SE of Bumabag, also has a large steam vent.[4] The Bumabag and Podakan volcanoes could possibly be flank vents of Mount Binuluan.[5][6]

The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) lists Binuluan or Ambalatungan as an inactive volcano.[7]

Other studies

Mount Binuluan is usually covered in cloud or mist and so photographs could be difficult to obtain. The village of Bangtitan in Upper Uma in Lubuagan is a good vantage point for views and photography of the mountain on the rare occasions when the primary peak is not mist-enshrouded. It is not known if Binuluan itself has ever been climbed as access to the site is very difficult. The terrain is rugged and undeveloped.

There has been some geological surveying related to the Batong Buhay gold mining activities in Pasil, but the locals say no one has ever climbed or surveyed Binuluan because it is "too far away", "there's no reason to go there", "it is too difficult climbing that", and "even the geologists didn't bother".

Groundwork in 2007 and 2008 as part of a comprehensive systematic survey, shows volcanic-related activities around Binuluan, from northwestward of the peak, going counterclockwise, to eastward side of the peak.

Further groundwork was abandoned due to tribal conflicts on the southwest flank (Tinglayan-Tulgao tribal conflict), and unrelated intertribal conflicts on the northwest and northeast flanks (Upper Uma-Lubuagan conflict).

In 2008, the Department of Energy approved two local firms, Aragorn Power and Energy Corp. (APEC) and Guidance Management Corp. (GMC) to jointly explore 26,250-hectare (64,900-acre) area in the municipalities of Pasil, Tinglayan, and Lubuagan for geothermal energy feasibility studies.[8]

Geothermal features

Mount Binuluan exhibits a number of active geothermal features. There are a number of sites with strong steam emission, fumarolic activity, surface sulfur deposits, hot fresh water springs, hot sulfurous water springs, sulfur staining of riverine rocks, poisonous gas emissions, recent volcanic gas related deaths (>100 in last 20 years at Batong Buhay mines alone), heat destruction of vegetation, poisonous water, fumarole fields with new and shifting activity.

Bu-ot Fumarole Field

The Bu-ot Fumarole Field (Balatoc dialect) is located on Balatoc tribal land, along the Pasil River on the steep western valley slope, with the path going up to Balatoc village immediately to the right of the fumarole field.

  • Bu-ot Fumarole Field
  • Steep-sided Bu-ot Fumarole Field
  • Heavily sulfur-stained Pasil River, upstream from Bu-ot Fumarole Field

The steep area is located at approximately 17°21.078′N 121°05.676′E at an elevation of about 754 metres (2,474 ft) above sea level. There are two active steam vents with yellow sulfuric water flowing out, as well as from some other locations in the field, down to the Pasil River. The rocks along the Pasil River are heavily stained orange-yellow both upstream and downstream from the Bu-ot fumarole field.

Bum-bag Fumarole Fields

Bum-bag fumarole fields [pron. Boom-bag (Balatoc dialect)], (or Djum-ag in Upper Uma dialect), are located approximately 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Bu-ot, on Batong Buhay tribal land in Pasil. The fields are on the eastern side of the Pasil River valley at an elevation of about 1,437 metres (4,715 ft) above sea level. One walks through the Bum-bag rice terraces located at an elevation of about 1,182 metres (3,878 ft), to get to the fumarole fields. The fields though are located in a private property. The owner of the property reported that the underground rattling, banging, and explosions stopped years ago, but h7awrestdfyuhiuytreghjklrf m-bag fumarole fields appear to be consistent with the GVP's 'Bumabag Volcano', but it is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of the summit, not east.

  • Bum-bag Fumarole Fields from a distance
  • Bum-bag Rice Terraces
  • Bum-bag Fumarole Field #1
  • A closer look of Bum-bag Fumarole Field #1
  • Field 1, located about 100 metres (330 ft) north of Field 2 has about 11 separate fumarole vents, and covers about 2 hectares (4.9 acres), and was the most active of Fields 1, 2 and 3 as of 2008.
  • Field 2, (approximate location 17°19.59′N 121°5.016′E) has 16 separate fumarole vents, and covers about 2 hectares (4.9 acres) in 2008.
  • Bum-bag Fumarole Field #2
  • Armed private guards at Bum-bag Fumarole Field #2
  • Bum-bag Fumarole Field #3
  • Field 3 is located about 250 metres (820 ft) south of field 2.
  • Field 4, located about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) SE of Field 2 is believed to have the largest surface deposit of sulfur among the fields and is the most active. Field May 4 be consistent with the GVP's 'Podakan Volcano'.

There were broad swathes of bare ground between the numbered fields where all vegetation was absent except broken scorched trunks of mature pine tree. Besides the four fields, there could be another field over the ridge to the north of field 1, but it is unexplored.

Sugo-oc fumarole field
Sugo-oc Fumarole Field

The Sugo-oc fumarole field could be seen and photographed from the southern side of Binuluan in Bunog River valley, along the Tinglayan-Tulgao road. Unfortunately mist, cloud, and intermittent rain could easily prevent all photography. The fumarole field can be accessed through Dananao, Tulgao or Sumadel in Tinglayan.

Hot Springs

Numerous hot springs, both fresh water, and sulfurous water, exist in a wide half ring around the south and western sides of Binuluan. Bu-ot fumarole field, Bum-bag fumarole fields, and Sugu-oc fumarole field, all have hot sulfurous water springs. Along the Pasil River upstream from Bu-ot, six hot sulfurous water springs and one fumarole are said to be located.

Sun-ut Sulfur Spring (centre)

Sun-ut hot spring

Downstream from Bu-ot on the Sun-ut River below the village of Ag-agama, is the Sun-ut hot sulfur water spring. The local priest in Ag-agama says there used to be a natural bowl on the banks of the Sun-ut River into which the spring flowed and in which the people of Ag-agama bathed daily. But a typhoon-induced flooding of the Sun-ut river washed away the bowl and now the spring flows directly into the river. The spring is located on private property, the owner, living in Ag-agama. Further information from locals may disclose the other hot water springs in tributaries off the Pasil River upstream from Bu-ot.

Bunog Falls and Hot Springs

Bunog Falls and hot springs

Along the Bunog River, downstream from Bunog Falls below Tulgao West, are numerous hot sulfurous springs. The first spring is visible from Bunog Falls, about 100 metres (330 ft) downstream from the Bunog Falls' hot freshwater springs. According to Tulgao and Tinglayan locals, there was a hot salt water spring on the Bunog River which used to be harvested and the water 'cooked' (evaporated) to produce salt, before the Cordillera Highway was first blazed. Also, according to them, one of the springs is poisonous killing animals and birds which drink from it. There are no paths along the Bunog River to get to the other springs.

Locals in Tinglayan and Lubuagan do not know any other hot sulfur water springs in the Chico River or its tributaries other than Bunog River.

Possible eruptions

A possible phreatic or steam eruption was reported from Mount Binuluan in 1952, during which a sulfur-rich debris flow killed a dozen people.[4] Details about the eruption in 1952 are still scant. In 2007 and 2008, some 90- and 100-year-old elders in Brgy. Tulgao in Tinglayan said the loss of life in 1952 was caused by an eruption during a typhoon followed with the collapse of a natural earth bank below Sugo-oc fumarole field, high on the northern side of the Bunog River. The consequent mudslide buried a few houses below near the villages of Dananao and Sumadel, Tinglayan, killing maybe 12 people or thereabouts.

In 2007 and 2008, people in southern Kalinga around Binuluan spoke of an 'eruption' at Sugo-oc in 1986 or 1987. During the Abra earthquake at 20:16 hours on Sunday, January 13, 2008, buildings in Tinglayan shook and windows rattled for about 10 seconds. When speaking in English, the locals there at the time called this an 'eruption'. Gentle questioning of locals over months led to the conclusion that there are difficulties in communicating the difference between an eruption and an earthquake.

There were reports about that earthquake of 1986, which was felt also felt throughout the municipality of Lubuagan, was simultaneous with an eruption at Sugo-oc resulting in the ejection of ash and rock. Three people in Dananao village were killed by the ejected rocks. Because of these, there was a large migration out of the village with the Dananao people taking possession of a land along the Tubuk-to-Aurora Road in eastern Kalinga and resettling there.

See also

References
  1. "Bontoc Topographical Map". University of Texas in Austin Library. Retrieved on December 20, 2011.
  2. "The Highest Mountains in the Philippines". Pinoy Mountaineer. Retrieved on December 21, 2011.
  3. Alvir A D, 1953. A cluster of little known Philippine volcanoes. Proc 8th Pacific Sci Cong, 1953, 2: 205–206
  4. "Ambalatungan Group". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution.
  5. "Ambalatungan Synonyms & Sub-features". Global Volcanism Program. Retrieved on December 19, 2011.
  6. "Ambalatungan Group". Google Maps. Retrieved on December 28, 2011.
  7. "Inactive volcanoes of the Philippines Part 1" Archived September 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Retrieved on December 16, 2011.
  8. Albano, Jr., Estanislao (October 1, 2008). "DoE approves geothermal project in Kalinga town". Barangay RP. Retrieved on 2011-12-20.
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