Celedonia at Tipacua, Parícutin Volcano in background. 1945

Located in the USGS Library in Denver, the Ray Wilcox and Kenneth Segerstrom Collections of field records, highlight the collaboration between U.S. and Mexican scientists during the sudden appearance of the volcano, Parícutin. It emerged suddenly in a cornfield in 1943 and proceeded to erupt for nine years, displaced five nearby communities, and attracted worldwide attention.  Parícutin thrilled scientists from Mexico and the U.S. since it was the first time in modern history that they could study the birth of a volcano.