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United States · Shield volcano

Black Butte Crater Lava Field

Type
Shield volcano
Elevation
1478m
Last eruption
-8180
One of a series of interlocking craters forming the complex summit of Black Butte, the vent of the Shoshone lava field, is seen here from the summit of the butte. The broad, low Shoshone shield volcano fed voluminous lava flows that traveled a small distance north towards the Mount Bennett Hills in the background, but the bulk of the flows traveled initially south and then west for a total distance of 60 km. The Shoshone lava field, erupted about 10,000 years ago, is the westernmost of the young volcanic fields of the Snake River Plain.
One of a series of interlocking craters forming the complex summit of Black Butte, the vent of the Shoshone lava field, is seen here from the summit of the butte. The broad, low Shoshone shield volcano fed voluminous lava flows that traveled a small distance north towards the Mount Bennett Hills in the background, but the bulk of the flows traveled initially south and then west for a total distance of 60 km. The Shoshone lava field, erupted about 10,000 years ago, is the westernmost of the young volcanic fields of the Snake River Plain. · Photo: Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).
Type
Shield volcano
Country
United States
Region
North America / Yellowstone-Snake River Hotspot Volcano Group
Elevation
1478m
Coordinates
43.185, -114.354
Last eruption
-8180
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-basalt

Geological summary

The Black Butte Crater lava field is the westernmost of the young lava fields of the Eastern Snake River Plain.

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →

Eruption history

1 recordedGlossary

Record summary

Confirmed eruptions
1
Uncertain eruptions
0
Span of confirmed record
8180 BCE (±350 yrs) – 8180 BCE
Largest confirmed eruption
VEI 0 (8180 BCE)
Confirmed eruptions since 1900
0
Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions · Use arrow keys to move between bars, Enter to open
8180 BCE~8180 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 08180 BCE8180 BCE8179 BCE8179 BCE8179 BCE

Detailed timeline

  1. 8180 BCE (±350 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    8180 BCE – end unknown
    Black Butte Crater

Nearby volcanoes

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.