Hydrothermal Explosion Craters in Yellowstone National Park

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1971 Hydrothermal Explosion Craters in Yellowstone National Park L. J. P MUFFLER; L. J. P MUFFLER U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. E WHITE; D. E WHITE U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. H TRUESDELL A. H TRUESDELL U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information L. J. P MUFFLER U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 D. E WHITE U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 A. H TRUESDELL U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California 94025 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Jul 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1971, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (3): 723–740. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[723:HECIYN]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 24 Jul 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation L. J. P MUFFLER, D. E WHITE, A. H TRUESDELL; Hydrothermal Explosion Craters in Yellowstone National Park. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (3): 723–740. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[723:HECIYN]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Hydrothermal explosions are produced when water contained in near-surface rock at temperatures as high as perhaps 250°C flashes to steam and violently disrupts the confining rock. These explosions are due to the same instability and chain reaction mechanism as geyser eruptions but are so violent that a large proportion of solid debris is expelled along with water and steam.Hydrothermal explosions are not a type of volcanic eruption. Although the required energy probably comes from a deep igneous source, this energy is transferred to the surface by circulating meteoric water rather than by magma. The energy is stored as heat in hot water and rock within a few hundred feet of the surface.At least ten hydrothermal explosion craters, ranging in diameter from a few tens of feet to about 5000 ft, have been recognized in Yellowstone National Park. Eight of these craters are in hydrothermally cemented glacial deposits; two are in Pleistocene ash-flow tuff. Each is surrounded by a rim composed of debris derived from the crater. Juvenile volcanic ejecta are absent, and there is no evidence of impact.Geologic relations at the Pocket Basin crater establish that the explosion there took place during the waning stages of early Pinedale Glaciation. This association with ablating ice suggests that an ice-dammed lake existed over a hydrothermal system at the Pocket Basin site and that the hydrothermal explosion was triggered by the abrupt decrease in confining pressure consequent to sudden draining of the lake. Most of the other explosion craters in Yellowstone Park could have been triggered in the same manner.Calculations of energy available in Yellowstone hot-spring systems and of energy required to form craters indicate that the proposed mechanism is reasonable. The sizes of craters expected in various rock types correspond with those observed. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.