Diamond Craters

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Diamond Craters[1]

Malheur Maar, the only lake-filled maar in Diamond Craters
Elevation 4,708 ft (1,435 m)
Location Southeastern Oregon, USA
Range Basin and Range
Coordinates 43°6′N, 118°45′W
Topo map USGS Diamond Swamp
Type Volcanic field / shield volcano
Age of rock <60,000[2]
Last eruption Holocene?
Easiest route roads and trails

Diamond Craters is a volcanic field[1][2] or small shield volcano[3] in southeastern Oregon, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the town of Burns. It consists of a 23 sq mi (60 km²) area of basaltic lava flows, cinder cones, and maars.[2] The volcanoes are less than 60,000 years old, and some craters may be as recent as 6,000 years based on the sedimentation history in the lake-filled Malheur Maar.[1]

Diamond Craters and the nearby Diamond post office were named after the Diamond Ranch, established in the area by the pioneer Mace McCoy. The ranch used a diamond-shaped brand, hence the name.[4]

[edit] Notable Vents

Name Elevation Coordinates Last eruption
Big Bomb Crater[5] 1,308 metres (4,291 ft) - -
Central Crater Complex[5] 1,378 metres (4,521 ft) - -
Cloverleaf Crater[3] - - -
Dry Maar[5] 1,268 metres (4,160 ft) - -
East Twin Crater[5] 1,326 metres (4,350 ft) - -
Keyhole Explosion Crater[5] - - -
Lava Pit Crater[5] 1,305 metres (4,281 ft) - -
Little Red Cone[3] - - -
Malheur Maar[5] 1,286 metres (4,219 ft) - -
Nolf Crater[5] - - -
Oval Crater[5] - - -
Red Bomb Crater[5] 1,323 metres (4,341 ft) - -
West Twin Crater[5] 1,326 metres (4,350 ft) - -

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Diamond Craters
  2. ^ a b c Wood, Charles A.; Jürgen Kienle, eds. (1990). Volcanoes of North America. Cambridge University Press, pp. 208-209. ISBN 0-512-43811-X. 
  3. ^ a b c Peterson, Norman V.; Groh, Edward A. (1964). "Diamond Craters, Oregon". The Ore Bin 26 (2): 17–34. 
  4. ^ McArthur, Lewis A.; Lewis L. McArthur [1928] (2003). Oregon Geographic Names, Seventh Edition, Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. ISBN 0-87595-277-1 (trade paperback), ISBN 0-87595-278-X (hardcover). 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Diamond Craters - Synonyms and Subfeatures. Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.

[edit] External links

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Volcanoes of Oregon
High Cascades
Western Cascades
Eastern Cascades
Basin and Range
Big Hole · Hole-in-the-Ground · Fort Rock · Diamond Craters
Columbia Plateau