Sherman volcano facts for kids
The Sherman volcano is a possible ancient volcano located in Temagami, a town in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. Scientists believe it existed a very long time ago, even before humans walked the Earth!
This ancient volcano is thought to be west of a place called the Sherman Mine, which is no longer used. It is part of a special rock area known as the Temagami Greenstone Belt. This belt is made of very old rocks from the Archaean Eon, which was billions of years ago.
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How Do We Know About the Sherman Volcano?
Even though the Sherman volcano is long gone, geologists (scientists who study rocks and the Earth) have found clues. These clues suggest that a volcano was once active in this area.
Clues from Lava Flows
Scientists have found rocks that used to be lava flows. These are streams of melted rock that erupted from a volcano. They found at least two places where these old lava flows are visible. These spots are located between Turtle Lake and Link Lake.
One of the largest lava flow areas suggests that the volcano's opening, called a volcanic vent, was at the western end of Link Lake.
Clues from Rock Changes
Other clues come from how the rocks change in different areas. Scientists call these "facies changes." They also found signs of how the lava moved and settled in a rock formation called the Turtle Lake Formation. These findings also point to the volcano being west of Link Lake.
Clues from Volcanic Ash
Another important clue is the presence of jagged felsic tuffs. Tuff is a type of rock made from volcanic ash and small rock pieces that erupted from a volcano. These jagged tuffs are found in pyroclastic deposits near the Sherman Mine. Pyroclastic deposits are materials thrown out by an explosive volcanic eruption. The presence of these rocks helps scientists understand the volcano's past activity.
