The Mesa Falls Tuff is a tuff formation produced by the Mesa Falls eruption that formed the Henry's Fork Caldera that is located in Idaho west of Yellowstone National Park.[1] It is the second most recent caldera forming eruption from the Yellowstone hotspot and ejected of 280 km3 (67 cu mi) of material. This eruption, 1.3 million years BP, was preceded by the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff and succeeded by the Lava Creek Tuff, both of which were also formed by the Yellowstone hotspot.[2]

Mesa Falls eruption
Mesa Falls Tuff exposed at southern rim of both the Island Park Caldera and the Henry's Fork Caldera near Ashton, Idaho.
VolcanoHenry's Fork Caldera
Date1.3 million years ago
TypeUltra-Plinian
LocationIdaho, United States
44°20′N 111°20′W / 44.33°N 111.33°W / 44.33; -111.33
Volume280 km3 (67 cu mi)
VEI7
Extent of the Mesa Falls ash bed

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Christiansen, R.L., 2001, The Quaternary and Pliocene Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 729-G, 145 p.
  2. ^ Yellowstone Caldera, Wyoming