Geologic history of the Inyo Craters volcanic chain
A long, narrow tabular body of molten rock beneath the ground called a "dike" fed eruptions that formed the Inyo lava flows and several explosion craters around Deer Mountain. The magma began rising beneath the southern end of the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain n about 1350 C.E. and formed a remarkable series of lava flows, craters, layers of pumice and ash, and ground cracks between Mammoth Mountain and Obsidian Flow (see the map at the bottom of the page).
This volcanic activity probably occurred during a short period of time, perhaps lasting as long as a few weeks to a few months. The sequence of these eruptions can help us to anticipate the type of activity that is likely to occur again from along the chain, and also to recognize the events that will almost certainly precede future eruptions.
Sequence of events & effects of the eruptions
1. Moving magma causes cracks in the ground
Magma moved upward toward the surface both before and during the sequence of eruptions that occurred at the southern end of the Mono-Inyo Craters volcanic chain. The molten rock first broke through existing rock and then traveled as an elongate tabular body known as a dike. By spreading both horizontally and upward, the dike eventually reached about 11 km (6.8 mi) long and 10 m (32.8 ft) wide in places. The ground above the dike was significantly cracked and faulted.
2. Explosive eruptions create craters, ash fall, and pyroclastic flow
The first significant volcanic activity was a series of explosive eruptions at three separate vents. The eruptions ejected pieces of molten and solid rock, created small craters, and generated tall eruption columns above the vents. Pumice and ash fell to the ground near the vents and covered extensive areas with a layer of rock debris downwind. The explosive activity also produced a pyroclastic flow that traveled about 6 km (3.7 mi) from the South Deadman vent. This explosive activity was followed by smaller steam-driven explosions that formed the Inyo Craters.
3. Lava flows erupt quietly
After the explosive eruptions, molten rock continued to rise toward the surface. But instead of erupting explosively into the atmosphere, the magmaoozed onto the ground to form thick rounded lavaflows (domes). The molten rock forming these lava flows contains less dissolved water and other volcanic gasses (volatiles) than the earlier, explosively erupted magmas.
Characteristics of deposits from Inyo eruptions about 600 years ago
The eruption of magma in the form of tephra (chiefly pumice and volcanic ash), pyroclastic flows, and lavaflows occurred about 600 years ago from the Inyo chain at the Glass Creek, Obsidian, and South Deadman vents.
| Vent | Tephra | Pyroclastic flows | Lava Flows | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| length, km | area, km2 | volume, km3 | length, km | area, km2 | volume, km3 | area, km2 | volume km3 | |
| Glass Creek | >190 | >9000 | 0.10 | -- | -- | -- | 1.0 | 0.10 |
| Obsidian | >25 | >140 | 0.02 | <2 | -- | -- | 1.8 | 0.17 |
| South Deadman1 | >20 | >220 | 0.05 | 6 | >15 | 0.05 | 1.1 | 0.13 |
1 Two tephra lobes were produced during the explosive activity of South Deadman vent; the values reported represent combined area covered and volume erupted.
