List of large volume volcanic eruptions in the Basin and Range Province facts for kids

Large volume volcanic eruptions in the Basin and Range Province include Basin and Range eruptions in California, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming and Oregon, as well as those of the Long Valley Caldera geological province and the Yellowstone hotspot.

Volcanic fields

Some of the volcanic fields within the Basin and Range Province: Northwestern Nevada, the Modoc Plateau, Central Nevada, the Great Basin, Southwestern Nevada, the Mojave Desert, and the Long Valley Caldera region. Named ones include: Coso Volcanic Field, Mono Lake Volcanic Field, Marysvale Volcanic Field, San Juan volcanic field, Indian Peak, Central Colorado volcanic field, Jemez volcanic lineament, Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, Santa Rosa-Calico, and Boot Heel volcanic field.

Geological features

Many geological features in Western United States have a Northeastern orientation, the North American craton motion has the same orientation as well. For example: the Trans-Challis fault zone, Idaho; the Snake River in Oregon; the Garlock Fault, California; the Colorado River in Utah; the Colorado Mineral Belt; Crater Flat-Reveille Range-Lunar Crater lineament, the Northwestern Nevada volcanic field; the San Juan caldera cluster, Colorado; the Socorro-Magdalena caldera cluster, New Mexico; Jemez volcanic lineament (Raton hotspot trail); and the Yellowstone hotspot trail. But the Yellowstone hotspot trail was modified through faults and extension.

Geology

Prior to the Eocene Epoch (55.8 ± 0.2 to 33.9 ± 0.1 Ma) the convergence rate of the Farallon and North American Plates was fast and the angle of subduction was shallow. During the Eocene the Farallon Plate subduction-associated compressive forces of the Laramide orogeny ended, plate interactions changed from orthogonal compression to oblique strike-slip, and volcanism in the Basin and Range Province flared up. It is suggested that this plate continued to be underthrust until about 19 Ma, at which time it was completely consumed and volcanic activity ceased, in part. Olivine basalt from the oceanic ridge erupted around 17 Ma and extension began. The extension resulted in roughly north-south-trending faults, the Great Basin, the Walker trough, the Owens graben, and the Rio Grande rift, for instance.

List of large volume eruptions in the Basin and Range Province

The large volume eruptions in the Basin and Range Province include:

• Long Valley Caldera; Mono County, California, USA; 758.9 ± 1.8 ka; VEI 7; 600 km³ (140 cu mi) of Bishop Tuff.
• Valles Caldera, New Mexico, USA; around 1.15 Ma; VEI 7; around 600 km³ (140 cu mi) of the Tshirege formation, Upper Bandelier eruption.
• Valles Caldera, New Mexico, USA; around 1.47 Ma (Lower Bandelier eruption, the Otawi).
• Yellowstone hotspot (?), Lake Owyhee volcanic fields; 15.0 to 15.5 Ma.
• Yellowstone hotspot (?), Northwest Nevada volcanic field, Virgin Valley, High Rock, Hog Ranch, and unnamed calderas; West of the Pine Forest Range, Nevada; 15.5 to 16.5 Ma; Tuffs: Idaho Canyon, Ashdown, Summit Lake, and Soldier Meadow.
• Columbia River Basalt Province: Yellowstone hotspot releases a huge pulse of volcanic activity, the first eruptions were near the Oregon-Idaho-Washington border. Columbia River and Steens flood basalts, Pueblo Mountains, Steens Mountain, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; most vigorous eruptions were from 14 to 17 Ma.
  • Columbia River flood basalts, 175,000 km³ (42,000 cu mi)
  • Steens flood basalts, 65,000 km³ (16,000 cu mi)
• Mount Belknap Caldera (17 km × 12 km (10.6 mi × 7.5 mi)), Marysvale Volcanic Field, southwestern Utah; 19 Ma; 150 km³ (36 cu mi) of tephra (Joe Lott member).
• Big John Caldera (10 km × 6 km (6.2 mi × 3.7 mi)), Marysvale Volcanic Field, southwestern Utah; 22 Ma; 50 km³ (12 cu mi) of Delano Peak Tuff member.
• Monroe Peak Caldera (20 km × 16 km (12.4 mi × 9.9 mi)), Marysvale Volcanic Field, southwestern Utah; 23 Ma; 200 km³ (48 cu mi) of Osiris Tuff.
• Lake City calderas (20 km (12 mi) wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 23.1 Ma; 300 km³ (72 cu mi) of Sunshine Peak Tuff.
• Turkey Creek Caldera (25 km (16 mi) wide), Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona; 25 Ma; 500 km³ (120 cu mi) of Rhyolite Canyon Formation.
• Lake City calderas (25 km (16 mi) wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 25.9 Ma; 200 to 500 km³ (48 to 120 cu mi) of tephra.
• Questa Caldera (15 km (9.3 mi) wide), Questa-Latir volcanic locus, Questa, New Mexico; 26 Ma, 400 km³ (96 cu mi) of Amalia Tuff.
• Creede Caldera (24 km (15 mi) wide), San Juan Mountains, Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 26.7 Ma; less than 500 km³ (120 cu mi) of Snowshoe Mountain Tuff.
• San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 26.8 Ma, 562 km³ (135 cu mi) of Nelson Mountain Tuff.
• San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 26.9 Ma, 250 km³ (60 cu mi) of Cebola Creek Tuff.
• San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27 Ma, 150 km³ (36 cu mi) of Rat Creek Tuff.
• Three Creeks Caldera (8 km (5.0 mi) wide), Marysvale Volcanic Field, Cove Fort-Sulphurdale area, southwestern Utah; 27 Ma; 100 to 200 km³ (24 to 48 cu mi) of Three Creeks Tuff Member of the Bullion Canyon Volcanics.
• South River Caldera, Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.1 Ma, more than 500 km³ (120 cu mi) of Wason Park Tuff.
• Central San Juan Caldera (concealed), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.2 Ma, 250 km³ (60 cu mi) of Blue Creek Tuff.
• Bachelor Caldera (20 km × 28 km (12 mi × 17 mi)), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.35 Ma; 1,200 km³ (290 cu mi) of Carpenter Ridge Tuff.
• Silverton Caldera (20 km (12 mi) wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.6 Ma, 50 to 100 km³ (12 to 24 cu mi) of Crystal Lake Tuff.
• La Garita Caldera (100 km × 35 km (62 mi × 22 mi)), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; VEI 8; more than 5,000 km³ (1,200 cu mi) of Fish Canyon Tuff was blasted out in a major single eruption about 27.8 Ma.
• San Juan Caldera (22 km × 24 km (14 mi × 15 mi)), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28 Ma; more than 1,000 km³ (240 cu mi) of Sapinero Mesa Tuff.
• Uncompahgre Caldera (23 km × 20 km (14 mi × 12 mi)), Uncompahgre National Forest, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.1 Ma; more than 1,000 km³ (240 cu mi) of Dillon/Sapinero Mesa Tuffs.
• Lost Lake Caldera (10 km (6.2 mi) wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.2 Ma, 100 to 500 km³ (24 to 120 cu mi) of Blue Mesa Tuff.
• Platoro calderas, San Juan volcanic field, Platoro, Conejos County, Colorado; 28.2 Ma; 1,000 km³ (240 cu mi) of Chiquito Peak Tuff.
• Central San Juan Caldera (concealed), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.3 Ma; 500 km³ (120 cu mi) of Masonic Park Tuff.
• Ute Creek Caldera, Central Colorado volcanic field, Colorado; 28.3 Ma; 500 km³ (120 cu mi) of Ute Ridge Tuff.

List of Rupelian calderas

The Rupelian age/stage (Paleogene period/system, Oligocene epoch/series) spans the time between 33.9 ±0.1 Ma and 28.4 ±0.1 Ma (million years ago).

• Bursum Caldera (size: 40 x 30 km), Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, New Mexico; 28.5 Ma ±0.5; 1,050 cubic kilometres (250 cu mi) of Bloodgood Canyon Tuff.
• Bursum Caldera (size: 40 x 30 km), Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, New Mexico; 28.5 Ma ±0.5; 1,200 cubic kilometres (290 cu mi) of Apache Springs Tuff.
• San Juan Caldera (size: 24 x 22 km), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.5 Ma; 900 cubic kilometres (220 cu mi) of tephra.
• Summitville Caldera (size: 12 x 8 km), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.5 Ma; 100 to 500 cubic kilometers (24 to 120 cu mi) of Ojito Creek/ La Jadero Tuffs.
• Mount Hope (size: 15 km), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 29 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Masonic Park Tuff.
• Around White Rock caldera (size: 50 km North-South), White Rock Mountains, Great Basin, Nevada; 29.02 Ma ±0.04; 2,600 cubic kilometres (620 cu mi) of Lund Tuff.
• Ute Creek (size: 8 km wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 29 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Ute Ridge Tuff.
• Platoro calderas (size: 12 x 18 km), San Juan volcanic field, Platoro, Conejos County, Colorado; 29.5 Ma; 500 cubic kilometers (120 cu mi) of Black Mountain Tuff.
• Indian Peak, Eastern Nevada; 29.5 Ma; more than 3,200 cubic kilometers (768 cu mi) of Wah Wah Springs Tuff.
• Platoro calderas (size: 18 x 22 km), San Juan volcanic field, Platoro, Conejos County, Colorado; 30 Ma; 592 cubic kilometers (142 cu mi) of La Jara Canyon Tuff.
• Goodsight-Cedar Hills volcano-tectonic depression (Bell Top Formation), south-central New Mexico; 30.5 Ma ±1.5, 295 cubic kilometres (71 cu mi) of tephra (Bell Top Formation).
• William's Ridge, Central Nevada; 31.4 Ma; 3,500 cubic kilometres (840 cu mi) of Windous Butte Tuff.
• North Pass Caldera, Cochetopa Hills, Central Colorado volcanic field; 32.25 Ma; 400 to 500 cubic kilometers (96 to 120 cu mi) of Saguache Creek Tuff.
• Organ Caldera (size: 16 km wide), Organ Mountains, New Mexico; 32 Ma, 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Cueva Soledad Rhyolite.
• Chinati Caldera (size: 30 x 20 km), Chinati Mountains, Texas; 32.5 Ma ±0.5, 1,000 cubic kilometres (240 cu mi) of Mitchel Mesa Rhyolite.
• Bonanza (size: 12 km wide), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 32.5 Ma, more than 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Bonanza Tuff.
• Cowboy Rim (size: 26 x 18 km), Animas Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico; 33 Ma, 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Gillespie Tuff.
• Emory Caldera (size: 25 x 55 km), Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, City of Rocks State Park; 33 Ma; VEI 8; 1,310 cubic kilometers (314 cu mi) of Kneeling Nun Tuff.
• Socorro Caldera (size: 25 x 35 km), Rio Grande rift, Socorro, New Mexico; 33 Ma, 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Hells Mesa Rhyolite.
• Marshall Creek, Thirtynine Mile volcanic area, Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 33.7 Ma; more than 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Thorn Ranch Tuff.
• Mount Aetna (size: 10 km wide), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 33.81 Ma, 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Badger Creek Tuff.
• Grizzly Peak Caldera (size: 12 km wide), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 34.31 Ma; 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Grizzly Peak Rhyolite.
• Juniper Caldera (size: 25 km), Animas Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico; 35 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Oak Creek Tuff.
• Mount Princeton (eroded), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 35.3 Ma ±0.6; more than 1,000 cubic kilometres (240 cu mi) of Wall Mountain Tuff.
• Davis Mountains, Texas; 35.35 Ma ±0.6; 210 cubic kilometres (50 cu mi) of tuffs of Wild Cherry, Lavas of Casket Mountain.
• Davis Mountains, Texas; 35.61 Ma ±0.09; 200 cubic kilometres (48 cu mi) of Barrel Springs Formation and ash flow tuff.
• Quitman Caldera (size: 15 x 10 km), Quitman Mountains, Hudspeth County, Texas; 36 Ma; 300 cubic kilometres (72 cu mi) of Square Peak Volcanics.
• Davis Mountains, Texas; 36.2 Ma ±0.6; 300 cubic kilometres (72 cu mi) of Mafic lavas.
• Davis Mountains, Texas; 36.33 Ma ±0.13; 150 cubic kilometres (36 cu mi) of tephra (Paisano Volcano).
• Davis Mountains, Texas; 36.51 Ma ±0.05; 210 cubic kilometres (50 cu mi) of Adobe Canyon and Limpia Formations.
• Davis Mountains (fissures), Texas; 36.82 Ma ±0.08; 1,250 cubic kilometres (300 cu mi) of Flood rhyolites, rhyolite domes, and Gomez Tuff.
• Muir Caldera (size: 26 x 18 km wide), Hidalgo County, New Mexico; 37 Ma; 300 cubic kilometres (72 cu mi) of Woodhaul Canyon tephra.
• Infernito Caldera (size: 12 km wide), Trans-Pecos, Texas; 37.5 Ma ±0.5; 70 to 100 cubic kilometers (17 to 24 cu mi) of Buckshot Tuff.
• Thomas Caldera (size: 16 x 25 km wide), Delta, Utah; 39 Ma; 400 cubic kilometres (96 cu mi) of Mount Laird Tuff.
• Twin Peaks Caldera (size: 20 km), Challis volcanic field, Custer, Idaho; 45 Ma, 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Challis Creek Tuff.
• Van Horn cauldron complex (size: 34 x 48 km), Challis volcanic field, Custer, Idaho; 46 Ma ±0.6; unknown amount of Elis Creek Tuff.
• Silver Bell Caldera (size: 8 km wide), Arizona; 55.8 Ma; unknown amount of Mount Laird Tuff.
• Silver Bell Caldera (size: 8 km wide), Arizona; 68 Ma; 150 cubic kilometres (36 cu mi) of Lithic Tuff.
• Tucson Mountain Caldera (size: 25 km wide), Tucson Mountains, Arizona; 73 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Cat Mountain Tuff.