It is an alkaline shield volcano and the most recent activity has been dated to 0.36 +/- 0.06 Ma.

[1] Along with the neighboring volcanoes of Mount Meydan and Etrüsk Dağı (Kavşabulak Tepesi), Girekol is part of a volcanic province associated with a regional geological structure called the "Lake Van dome".

[2] It lies approximately 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of the town of Erciş.

[citation needed] The volcano has produced plagiophyric, trachybasaltic lavas that are among the youngest eruption activities on the northern coast of Lake Van.

In part, these overlie older volcanic products.