Baldface Mountain volcanic field facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Baldface Mountain volcanic field |
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 Baldface Mountain volcanic field
Location in British Columbia
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Baldface Mountain |
| Elevation | 1,798 m (5,899 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| Geology | |
| Volcanic belt | Anahim Volcanic Belt |
The Baldface Mountain volcanic field is a group of old volcanoes in British Columbia, Canada. It's found in the middle of British Columbia, about 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of the Itcha Range. This area is part of a bigger chain of volcanoes called the Anahim Volcanic Belt. The Baldface Mountain volcanic field has at least eight volcanic cones, which are like small mountains formed by volcanic eruptions. It's one of two main volcanic areas in the Anahim Volcanic Belt.
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What is the Baldface Mountain Volcanic Field?
A volcanic field is a place where you can find many small volcanoes or vents. These volcanoes might have erupted at different times. The Baldface Mountain volcanic field is located on the Chilcotin Plateau, a large flat area in British Columbia.
Types of Volcanoes You'll Find Here
The volcanoes in this field are mostly different kinds of cones:
- Cinder cones: These are cone-shaped hills built up from small pieces of lava (cinders) that were thrown out during eruptions.
- Eroded cones: These are older cones that have been worn down over time by wind, rain, and ice.
- Polygenetic cones: These are volcanoes that have erupted many times, building up layers of different materials.
The rocks found here include types like trachybasalt, basanite, basalt, hawaiite, trachyte, and phonolite. These are all different kinds of volcanic rocks.
Important Mountains in the Field
The highest point in this volcanic field is Baldface Mountain itself, which stands 1,798 meters (5,899 feet) tall. It's a polygenetic cone, meaning it formed from many eruptions. Another notable peak is Whitetop Mountain.
When Did These Volcanoes Erupt?
The volcanoes in the Baldface Mountain volcanic field are quite old. Scientists have studied the rocks to find out when they erupted. Some of the eruptions happened around 2.5 million years ago, while others were more recent, about 900,000 years ago. This means the field has been active for a very long time, but it's not considered active today.
