The Physical Environment of Mt. Pangasugan, Leyte, Philippines
Geology Mt. Pangasugan is generally built up by andesitic and basaltic pyroclastic rocks (referred to as Pangasugan formation) which are mostly of Quaternary and Tertiary origin. This rock formation is characterized by weak consolidation, lithologic disco ntinuities, abundance of rock outcrops, and shearing due to the occurrence of the Philippine fault line approximately at the center of the mountain range. Minor earthquakes are relatively frequent in the area. All these geological characteristics indicate that the area is unstable. Geomorphology The morphology of Mt. Pangasugan is largely the result of the combined effects of volcanism, erosion, faulting and tectonic uplift. Mt. Pangasuagn rises abruptly from the narrow alluvial coastal plain along the Camotes Sea into a vertical wall-like rock mass with a maximum height of about 1100 m above sea level (asl). The air distance between the sea level and the peak of the mountain is less than 3 km. This short distance suggests extremel...