Crooked River caldera explained

Crooked River caldera
Map:Oregon
Location:Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates:44.3°N -120.9°W
Type:Caldera, supervolcano
Age:29.5 Ma
Volcanic Arc:Cascade Volcanic Arc, Ochoco Mountains
Last Eruption:29.5 million years ago

The Crooked River caldera is a large and ancient volcano that straddles three central Oregon counties. The diameter of the caldera is about 41x and is notable for the welded tuff present at Gray Butte, Smith Rock, Powell Buttes, Grizzly Mountain and Barnes Butte. The volcano is considered extinct and last erupted about 29.5 Ma.[1]

Notes and References

  1. The Crooked River Caldera is also a supervolcano. Web site: Field trip guide to the Oligocene Crooked River caldera: Central Oregon's Supervolcano, Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties, Oregon . Oregon Geology . Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Studies . 2009 . 2014-12-29.