Volcano Vent facts for kids

Volcano Vent is a small shield volcano located in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is a relatively young volcano, formed during the Holocene period, which means it's from the most recent part of Earth's history. This volcano stands out from the land around it, especially north of the Nazcha Creek.

Volcano Vent is part of a larger area called the West Tuya lava field. It shares this field with two other features, West Vent and Grizzly Butte. All three are small shield volcanoes within the Tuya Volcanic Field. This field is itself a part of an even bigger group of volcanoes known as the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province. The main type of rock found at Volcano Vent is a solid, strong rock called basalt.

What is a Shield Volcano?

A shield volcano gets its name because it looks like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. These volcanoes are usually very wide and have gentle slopes. They are built up over time by many flows of runny lava. This lava flows easily, spreading out far from the central vent.

How Shield Volcanoes Form

Shield volcanoes form when hot, liquid rock, called magma, rises from deep inside the Earth. This magma erupts as lava onto the surface. Because the lava is very fluid, it flows a long way before it cools and hardens. Over many eruptions, these thin layers of lava build up, creating the wide, low shape of the volcano.

Lava at Volcano Vent

The rock found at Volcano Vent is mostly basalt. Basalt is a common type of volcanic rock. It forms from lava that is low in silica, which makes it very fluid. This explains why Volcano Vent has the classic wide, gentle shape of a shield volcano.

Volcano Vent's Location

Volcano Vent is located in a remote part of northern British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Kawdy Plateau, which is in the northern section of the Stikine Plateau. This region is known for its rugged landscapes and many volcanic features.

Part of a Bigger Volcanic Area

Volcano Vent is one of three small shield volcanoes in the Tuya Volcanic Field. This field is a group of volcanoes that are all connected. The Tuya Volcanic Field is also part of the much larger Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province. This province is a huge area of volcanic activity that stretches across parts of Canada and the United States. It shows that this region has a long history of volcanic eruptions.

When Did Volcano Vent Form?

Volcano Vent is considered a Holocene volcano. The Holocene is the current geological epoch, which began about 11,700 years ago. This means that Volcano Vent erupted and formed relatively recently in Earth's long history. While it's not erupting today, its age tells us it's a young feature on the landscape.