Jordan Craters

Jordan Craters
Coffeepot Crater (left center) was the source of voluminous basaltic lava flows in the Jordan Craters volcanic field of SE Oregon.
Highest point
Elevation	4,833 ft (1,473 m) [1]
Coordinates	43°06′43″N117°24′58″W / 43.1118219°N 117.4159899°W / 43.1118219; -117.4159899 [2]
Geography
Location	Malheur County, Oregon, United States
Geology
Rock age	less than 30,000 years [3]
Mountain type	Volcanic field
Last eruption	1250 BCE [1]

The flows of Jordan Craters volcanic field are the youngest of a series of large Quaternary basalt fields in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. The field is thought to be approximately 3200 years old, based on findings of a lake sediment coring experiment in 1986. It was formed by basaltic pahoehoe emanating from vents throughout the area. ^[4]

The most recent flows come from Coffeepot Crater, a large breached cinder cone. These flows show excellent examples of inflated lava. ^[5] Historically, it is believed that Coffeepot Crater held a pond of lava that would occasionally breach the sides of the crater to flow freely into the field. ^[4]

Jordan Craters is approximately 120 miles (200 km) southwest of Boise, Idaho ^[3] and 18 miles (30 km) northwest of Jordan Valley, Oregon. ^[4]

The craters are free and open to the public all year.

See also

• List of volcanoes in the United States of America

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests – Crooked River National Grassland. United States Forest Service. (archived)

1. "Jordan Craters". Global Volcanism Program . Smithsonian Institution . Retrieved 2008-05-16.
2. "Jordan Craters". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2008-11-14.
3. Wood, Charles A.; Jurgen Kienle (1993). Volcanoes of North America. Cambridge University Press. pp. 210–211. ISBN   0-521-43811-X.
4. "Jordan Craters volcanic field". USGS Volcano Hazards Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
5. "Oregon Volcanoes - Jordan Craters Flows". Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests - Crooked River National Grassland. United States Forest Service. 2003-11-26. Archived from the original on 2011-05-12. Retrieved 2008-05-16.