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Images of Yellowstone.
Schematic illustration showing the 1912 Novarupta eruption in Alaska and the caldera collapse at Mount Katmai, 10.6 km (about 6.6 miles) to the northeast.
Schematic illustration showing the 1912 Novarupta eruption in Alaska and the caldera collapse at Mount Katmai, 10.6 km (about 6.6 miles) to the northeast.
View from the SE rim of McDermitt caldera, Nevada and Oregon, showing rhyolite lavas overlain by thin outflow McDermitt Tuff in the south wall of the caldera. The low area that makes up most of the photo is intracaldera tuffaceous sediment. This is Thacker Pass, the site of largest and highest-grade lithium deposits in the region.
View from the SE rim of McDermitt caldera, Nevada and Oregon, showing rhyolite lavas overlain by thin outflow McDermitt Tuff in the south wall of the caldera. The low area that makes up most of the photo is intracaldera tuffaceous sediment. This is Thacker Pass, the site of largest and highest-grade lithium deposits in the region.
Folds in outflow sheets of McDermitt Tuff, from the eruption that formed McDermitt Caldera in Nevada and Oregon about 16.4 million years ago. The folding is called “rheomorphism” and occurred as the hot ash deposit flowed under its own weight shortly after it was deposited over preexisting topographic highs and lows. The texture resembles that of rhyolit
Folds in outflow sheets of McDermitt Tuff, from the eruption that formed McDermitt Caldera in Nevada and Oregon about 16.4 million years ago. The folding is called “rheomorphism” and occurred as the hot ash deposit flowed under its own weight shortly after it was deposited over preexisting topographic highs and lows. The texture resembles that of rhyolit
Map of volcanic ashfall. Areas of the United States that once were covered by volcanic ash from Yellowstone's giant eruptions 2 million and 630,000 years ago, compared with ashfall from the 760,000-year-old Long Valley caldera eruptions at Mammoth Lakes, California, and the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington.
Map of volcanic ashfall. Areas of the United States that once were covered by volcanic ash from Yellowstone's giant eruptions 2 million and 630,000 years ago, compared with ashfall from the 760,000-year-old Long Valley caldera eruptions at Mammoth Lakes, California, and the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington.
Steam rises above a hot pool at Agua Shuca, one of many thermal areas of the Ahuachapán geothermal field of El Salvador. A sudden hydrothermal explosion at Agua Shuca in October 1990 ejected steam and debris within a 200-m-radius, and about 25 people living adjacent to the thermal area were killed.
Steam rises above a hot pool at Agua Shuca, one of many thermal areas of the Ahuachapán geothermal field of El Salvador. A sudden hydrothermal explosion at Agua Shuca in October 1990 ejected steam and debris within a 200-m-radius, and about 25 people living adjacent to the thermal area were killed.
Yellowstone National Park employees Rick Hutchinson (right) and Jim Peaco (left) guide the specially designed Little Dipper boat into the boiling waters of Grand Prismatic Spring to collect measurements of the temperature and structure of the feature. National Park Service photo by Josh Robbins in 1996.
Yellowstone National Park employees Rick Hutchinson (right) and Jim Peaco (left) guide the specially designed Little Dipper boat into the boiling waters of Grand Prismatic Spring to collect measurements of the temperature and structure of the feature. National Park Service photo by Josh Robbins in 1996.
Queen's Laundry bathhouse, in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Building began under superintendent Philetus Norris in 1881 but was never finished.
Queen's Laundry bathhouse, in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. Building began under superintendent Philetus Norris in 1881 but was never finished.
Cross section of the Western Snake River Plain, Idaho.
Cross section of the Western Snake River Plain, Idaho.
A gas plume rises above lava fountains in a lava lake in the summit crater of Nyiragongo volcano on 20 August 1994. USGS photo by Jack Lockwood.
A gas plume rises above lava fountains in a lava lake in the summit crater of Nyiragongo volcano on 20 August 1994. USGS photo by Jack Lockwood.
Photo of a deep-ocean hydrothermal vent system from the East Pacific Rise at 9º39’N latitude and 2550 m (8366 ft) depth showing vigorously venting “black smoker” hydrothermal fluids (329 °C, or 624 °F) that are dark gray to black due to rapid precipitation of iron, copper, and zinc sulfide minerals as the hot water mixes with cold bottom waters.
Photo of a deep-ocean hydrothermal vent system from the East Pacific Rise at 9º39’N latitude and 2550 m (8366 ft) depth showing vigorously venting “black smoker” hydrothermal fluids (329 °C, or 624 °F) that are dark gray to black due to rapid precipitation of iron, copper, and zinc sulfide minerals as the hot water mixes with cold bottom waters.
Color-shaded relief topographic map of the track of the Yellowstone hotspot showing the ages and locations of volcanic fields and faulting patterns which become younger to the northeast. Areas in cooler colors (greens and blues) represent low topographic elevations, whereas warmer colors (oranges and reds) represent high elevations. Adapted from
Color-shaded relief topographic map of the track of the Yellowstone hotspot showing the ages and locations of volcanic fields and faulting patterns which become younger to the northeast. Areas in cooler colors (greens and blues) represent low topographic elevations, whereas warmer colors (oranges and reds) represent high elevations. Adapted from
Porkchop Geyser erupting in August 1989.
Porkchop Geyser erupting in August 1989.
Ice cone at Porkchop Geyser in March 1989.
Ice cone at Porkchop Geyser in March 1989.
Photo of damage to the Mammoth-Norris highway, just south of Mammoth Hot Springs, caused by the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 earthquake. Haynes Inc. photo for the Deseret News.
Photo of damage to the Mammoth-Norris highway, just south of Mammoth Hot Springs, caused by the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 earthquake. Haynes Inc. photo for the Deseret News.
Gibbon River in Gibbon Meadows immediate following the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 Yellowstone National Park earthquake. The muddy color is due to increased sediment load. NPS photo by Rick Hutchinson.
Gibbon River in Gibbon Meadows immediate following the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 Yellowstone National Park earthquake. The muddy color is due to increased sediment load. NPS photo by Rick Hutchinson.
Muddy thermal discharge (foreground) near Congress Pool (middle ground) in Norris Geyser Basin following the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 Yellowstone National Park earthquake, NPS photo by Rick Hutchinson.
Muddy thermal discharge (foreground) near Congress Pool (middle ground) in Norris Geyser Basin following the June 30, 1975, magnitude-6 Yellowstone National Park earthquake, NPS photo by Rick Hutchinson.
Map: Index map showing locations of 1967–1968 research drill holes in Yellowstone National Park. Taken from USGS Bulletin 1967.
Map: Index map showing locations of 1967–1968 research drill holes in Yellowstone National Park. Taken from USGS Bulletin 1967.
Morning Glory Pool used to be clear blue in color, as shown in the historic undated photo on the left (National Park Service photo by Rentchler).
Morning Glory Pool used to be clear blue in color, as shown in the historic undated photo on the left (National Park Service photo by Rentchler).
An example Correlation of Map Units chart from the Surficial Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park (U.S. Geological Survey, 1972) that demonstrates a typical classification scheme for surficial units.
An example Correlation of Map Units chart from the Surficial Geologic Map of Yellowstone National Park (U.S. Geological Survey, 1972) that demonstrates a typical classification scheme for surficial units.
Generalized geologic map of the Eocene Absaroka volcanic field (modified from Smedes and Prostka, 1972 and “Geology of Wyoming”).
Generalized geologic map of the Eocene Absaroka volcanic field (modified from Smedes and Prostka, 1972 and “Geology of Wyoming”).
Shoshone Tukudika (Sheepeater) men, women, and children at Medicine Lodge Creek, Idaho, in 1871. This photo was taken by U.S. Geological Survey employee William Henry Jackson. Courtesy of National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, YELL 8151.
Shoshone Tukudika (Sheepeater) men, women, and children at Medicine Lodge Creek, Idaho, in 1871. This photo was taken by U.S. Geological Survey employee William Henry Jackson. Courtesy of National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, YELL 8151.