Large-volume volcanic eruptions in the Basin and Range Province include Basin and Range eruptions in Utah, California, Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming, and Oregon, as well as those of the Long Valley Caldera geological province and the Yellowstone hotspot.

Volcanic fields The volcanic fields within the Basin and Range Province include Northwestern Nevada, the Modoc Plateau, Central Nevada, the Great Basin, Southwestern Nevada, the Mojave Desert, and the Long Valley Caldera regions. Named fields include Coso Volcanic Field, Mono Lake Volcanic Field, Marysvale Volcanic Field, San Juan volcanic field, Indian Peak, Central Colorado volcanic field, Jemez volcanic lineament, Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, Santa Rosa-Calico, and Boot Heel volcanic field.

Geological features Many geological features in Western United States have a Northeastern orientation; the North American craton motion has the same orientation as well.Smith, R.L. and Luedke, R.G. (1984). For example: the Trans-Challis fault zone in Idaho, the Snake River in Oregon, the Garlock Fault in California, the Colorado River in Utah, the Colorado Mineral Belt, Crater Flat-Reveille Range-Lunar Crater lineament, the Northwestern Nevada volcanic field, the San Juan caldera cluster in Colorado, the Socorro-Magdalena caldera cluster in New Mexico, Jemez Lineament, and the Yellowstone hotspot trail. But the Yellowstone hotspot trail was modified through faults and extension.

Geology Prior to the Eocene Epoch (55.8 ± 0.2 to 33.9 ± 0.1 Ma), the convergence rate of the Farallon and North American Plates was fast and the angle of subduction was shallow. During the Eocene, the Farallon Plate subduction-associated compressive forces of the Laramide orogeny ended, plate interactions changed from orthogonal compression to oblique strike-slip, and volcanism in the Basin and Range Province flared up. It is suggested that this plate continued to be underthrust until about 19 Ma, at which time it was completely consumed and volcanic activity ceased, in part. Olivine basalt from the oceanic ridge erupted around 17 Ma and extension began.McKee, E. H. (1971).Chapin, C.E.; Wilks, M. and McIntosh, W.C. (2004). The extension resulted in roughly north-south-trending faults, the Great Basin, the Walker trough, the Owens graben, and the Rio Grande rift, for instance.

List of large-volume eruptions in the Basin and Range Province

The large-volume eruptions in the Basin and Range Province include: +Large-Volume Eruptions in the Basin and Range ProvinceName or SourceCountiesStatesAge (Ma)VEIVolumeNotesReferencesLong Valley CalderaMonoCalifornia0.7589 ± 0.00187Created the Bishop tuffHildreth, W. (1979), Sarna-Wojcicki et al. (2000).Supplementary Table to P.L. Ward (2009).Valles CalderaSandovalNew Mexico1.157Created the Tshirege formation of the Bandelier tuffIzett, Glen A. (1981).Heiken et al. (1990).Valles CalderaSandovalNew Mexico1.47Created the Otowi member of the Bandelier tuffMin et al. (2004).Valles CalderaLake Owyhee volcanic fieldsMalheurOregon15 to 15.5May have been due to the Yellowstone hotspotRytuba, James J. et al. (2004).Northwest Nevada volcanic fieldWashoe, HumboldtNevada15.5 to 16.5May have been due to the Yellowstone hotspot. Calderas include Virgin Valley, High Rock, Hog Ranch, and others. Tuffs include Idaho Canyon, Ashdown, Summit Lake, and Soldier Meadow.Matthew A. Coble, and Gail A. Mahood (2008).Noble, D.C. (1988).Castor, S.B., and Henry, C.D. (2000).Korringa, Marjorie K. (1973).Matthew E. Brueseke and William K. Hart (2008).Columbia River Basalt ProvinceIdaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington14 to 17Mount Belknap CalderaBeaver, PiuteUtah19; Marysvale Volcanic Field; Joe Lott tuffLipman (1984).Big John CalderaUtah22; Marysvale Volcanic Field; Delano Peak tuffMonroe Peak CalderaUtah23; Marysvale Volcanic Field; Osiris tuffLake City calderasColorado23.1; San Juan volcanic field; Sunshine Peak tuffLipman (1976).Hon and Lipman (1976).Turkey Creek CalderaCochiseArizona25; Rhyolite Canyon Formation; Chiricahua National MonumentLake City calderasColorado25.9; San Juan volcanic fieldLipman (2000).Questa CalderaTaosNew Mexico26; Questa-Latir volcanic locus; Amalia tuffCreede CalderaColorado26.7; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Snowshoe Mountain tuffManson et al. (2004).San Luis Caldera ComplexColorado26.8; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Nelson Mountain tuffSan Luis Caldera ComplexColorado26.9; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Cebola Creek tuffSan Luis Caldera ComplexColorado27; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Rat Creek tuffThree Creeks CalderaUtah27; Marysvale Volcanic Field; Cove Fort-Sulphurdale area; Three Creeks tuffSouth River CalderaColorado27.1San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Wason Park tuffCentral San Juan CalderaColorado27.2San Juan volcanic field; Blue Creek tuffBachelor CalderaColorado27.35; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Carpenter Ridge tuffSilverton CalderaColorado27.6; San Juan volcanic field; Crystal Lake tuffLa Garita CalderaColorado27.88; San Juan volcanic field; Wheeler Geologic Area; Fish Canyon tuffLargest explosive eruptions: New results for the 27.8 Ma Fish Canyon Tuff and the La Garita caldera, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado Bachmann et al. (2002).San Juan CalderaColorado28; San Juan volcanic field; Sapinero Mesa tuffUncompahgre CalderaColorado28.1; Uncompahgre National Forest; San Juan volcanic field; Dillon/Sapinero Mesa tuffLipman et al. (1973).Lost Lake CalderaColorado28.2San Juan volcanic field; Blue Mesa tuffPlatoro calderasColorado28.2San Juan volcanic field; Chiquito Peak tuffCentral San Juan CalderaColorado28.3San Juan volcanic field; Masonic Park tuffUte Creek CalderaColorado28.3Central Colorado volcanic field; Ute Ridge tuffSteven and Lipman (1976).

Large-volume eruptions of the Southwestern Nevada volcanic field (SWNVF)Caldera nameAge (Ma)VolumeNotesReferencesBlack Mountain Caldera7 ± 1 wide; Thirsty Canyon tuffTimber Mountain caldera complex11.45; Timber Mountain tuff – Ammonia Tanks memberSawyer et al. (1984).Timber Mountain caldera complex11.6Timber Mountain tuff – Rainer Mesa memberPaintbrush Caldera12.7 wide; Paintbrush tuff – Topopah Spring memberPaintbrush Caldera12.8Paintbrush tuff – Tiva Canyon memberSilent Canyon Caldera13Crater Flat Group13.25Belted Range tuff

List of Rupelian calderas The Rupelian age/stage (Paleogene period/system, Oligocene epoch/series) spans the time between 33.9 ±0.1 Ma and 28.4 ±0.1 Ma (million years ago).

+Large-Volume Eruptions in the Basin and Range ProvinceName or SourceCountiesStatesAge (Ma)VEIVolumeNotesReferencesBursum CalderaNew Mexico28.5 ± 0.5; Mogollon-Datil volcanic field; Bloodgood Canyon tuffRatté et al. (1984).Bursum CalderaNew Mexico28.5 ± 0.5; Mogollon-Datil volcanic field; Apache Springs tuffSan Juan CalderaColorado28.5San Juan volcanic fieldSummitville CalderaColorado28.5; San Juan volcanic field; Ojito Creek / La Jadero tuffsLipman (1975).Lipman et al. (1996).Mount HopeColorado29; San Juan volcanic field; Masonic Park tuffWhite Rock CalderaNevada29.02 ± 0.04; White Rock Mountains; Lund tuffMaughan (2002).Ute CreekColorado29; San Juan volcanic field; Ute Ridge tuffPlatoro calderasConejosColorado29.5; San Juan volcanic field; Black Mountain tuffIndian PeakNevada29.5Wah Wah Springs tuffBest et al. (1989).Platoro calderasConejosColorado30; San Juan volcanic field; La Jara Canyon tuffGoodsight–Cedar Hills volcano-tectonic depressionNew Mexico30.5 ± 1.5Bell Top formationSeager (1973).William's RidgeNevada31.4Windous Butte tuffBest (1993).North Pass CalderaColorado32.25Central Colorado volcanic field; Saguache Creek tuffLipman and McIntosh (2008).Organ CalderaNew Mexico32; Cueva Soledad rhyoliteChinati CalderaTexas32.5 ± 0.5; Mitchel Mesa rhyoliteHenry and Price (1984).BonanzaColorado32.5; Central Colorado volcanic field; Bonanza tuffLipman and Calvert (2003).Cowboy RimHidalgoNew Mexico33; Gillespie tuffErb (1979).Emory CalderaGrantNew Mexico338; Mogollon-Datil volcanic field; Kneeling Nun tuffElston et al. (1975).Socorro CalderaSocorroNew Mexico33; Hells Mesa rhyoliteOsburn and Chapin (1983).Marshall CreekColorado33.7Thirtynine Mile volcanic area; Central Colorado volcanic field; Thorn Ranch tuffGregory and McIntosh (1996).Mount AetnaColorado33.81; Central Colorado volcanic field; Badger Creek tuffMcIntosh and Chapin (2004).Grizzly Peak CalderaColorado34.31; Central Colorado volcanic field; Grizzly Peak rhyoliteJuniper CalderaHidalgoNew Mexico35Oak Creek TuffMount PrincetonColorado35.3 ± 0.6Central Colorado volcanic field; Wall Mountain tuffDavis MountainsTexas35.35 ± 0.6Wild Cherry tuff; Casket Mountain lavaHenry et al. (1994).Davis MountainsTexas35.61 ± 0.09Barrel Springs formation; Ash Flow tuffQuitman CalderaHudspethTexas36; Square Peak volcanicsDavis MountainsTexas36.2 ± 0.6Mafic lavasDavis MountainsTexas36.33 ± 0.13Paisano Volcano tephraDavis MountainsTexas36.51 ± 0.05Adobe Canyon and Limpia formationsDavis MountainsTexas36.82 ± 0.08Flood rhyolites, rhyolite domes, and Gomez tuffMuir CalderaHidalgoNew Mexico37; Woodhaul Canyon tephraDeal et al. (1978).Infernito CalderaTexas37.5 ± 0.5; Buckshot tuffThomas CalderaMillardUtah39; Mount Laird tuffTwin Peaks CalderaCusterIdaho45; Challis volcanic field; Challis Creek tuffHardyman (1981).Van Horn cauldron complexCusterIdaho46 ± 0.6; Challis volcanic field; Elis Creek tuffMoye et al. (1988).Silver Bell CalderaArizona55.8; Mount Laird tuffSawyer and Lipman (1983).Silver Bell CalderaArizona68; Lithic tuffTucson Mountain CalderaPimaArizona73; Cat Mountain tuff References

Sources

Columbia River Basalt Province-sources

Web citations:

Peter W. Lipman – sources

Maps Overview map at Basin and Range Province. Map of the Basin and Range Province Map: Thelin and Pike (1991), Landforms of the conterminous United States – A digital shaded-relief portrayal, USGS Map I-2206 Global Positioning System (GPS) Time Series Great Basin/Nevada

Supplemental material: Columbia River Basalt Group, eruptive loci Great Basin/Utah

Colorado

New Mexico

Mogollon-Datil volcanic field citing from