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Images of Yellowstone.

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Contact between Huckleberry Ridge Tuff ignimbrite members B and C
Contact between Huckleberry Ridge Tuff ignimbrite members B and C
Contact between Huckleberry Ridge Tuff ignimbrite members B and C
Contact between Huckleberry Ridge Tuff ignimbrite members B and C

The contact (red arrow) between Huckleberry Ridge Tuff ignimbrite members B and C is marked by a time break of probably years to a few decades.

Southern tip of the Lemhi Range, eastern Snake River Plain. showing the wall of the Blue Creek caldera
Southern tip of the Lemhi Range, eastern Snake River Plain. showing the wall of the Blue Creek caldera
Southern tip of the Lemhi Range, eastern Snake River Plain. showing the wall of the Blue Creek caldera
Southern tip of the Lemhi Range, eastern Snake River Plain. showing the wall of the Blue Creek caldera

Southern tip of the Lemhi Range on the northeastern margin of the eastern Snake River Plain showing the caldera wall of the 6.27 million year old Blue Creek caldera, in the Heise volcanic field.  Also shown are other units from the Heise volcanic field including the Kilgore Tuff and the Blacktail Creek Tuff.  In the foreground is the much thicker sequence

Southern tip of the Lemhi Range on the northeastern margin of the eastern Snake River Plain showing the caldera wall of the 6.27 million year old Blue Creek caldera, in the Heise volcanic field.  Also shown are other units from the Heise volcanic field including the Kilgore Tuff and the Blacktail Creek Tuff.  In the foreground is the much thicker sequence

Eruption of Daisy Geyser, Yellowstone National Park
Eruption of Daisy Geyser, Yellowstone National Park
Eruption of Daisy Geyser, Yellowstone National Park
Eruption of Daisy Geyser, Yellowstone National Park

An eruption of Daisy Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The geyser erupts boiling water at about 93 °C (200 °F). Photo by Shaul Hurwitz on April 12, 2007.

An eruption of Daisy Geyser in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The geyser erupts boiling water at about 93 °C (200 °F). Photo by Shaul Hurwitz on April 12, 2007.

Three panel figure: black and white surface of Mars; red ground with white streak; red ground with small scattered rocks
Hydrothermal deposits on Mars
Hydrothermal deposits on Mars
Hydrothermal deposits on Mars

Hydrothermal deposits on Mars. (A) This image was acquired by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on November 22, 2006.  It shows a bright plateau of layered rocks about 90 meters (98 yards) across called, “Home Plate.”  NASA image: PSP_001513_1655_red; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona.

Hydrothermal deposits on Mars. (A) This image was acquired by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera on November 22, 2006.  It shows a bright plateau of layered rocks about 90 meters (98 yards) across called, “Home Plate.”  NASA image: PSP_001513_1655_red; Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona.

Air photo showing newly thermal areas on Mallard Lake resurgent dome
Air photo showing newly thermal areas on Mallard Lake resurgent dome
Air photo showing newly thermal areas on Mallard Lake resurgent dome
Air photo showing newly thermal areas on Mallard Lake resurgent dome

National Agriculture Imagery Program natural-color image from September 9, 2006, showing newly mapped thermal areas (outlined in yellow) on the north side of the Mallard Lake resurgent dome.

Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone

Aerial view of Excelsior Geyser (in the foreground) and Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin. The colors around the thermal features are locations of different thermophile communities. These thermophiles fix carbon, both from the atmosphere and from the hot water. Credit Jim Peaco; June 22, 2006; Catalog #20386d; Original #IT8M4075

Aerial view of Excelsior Geyser (in the foreground) and Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone’s Midway Geyser Basin. The colors around the thermal features are locations of different thermophile communities. These thermophiles fix carbon, both from the atmosphere and from the hot water. Credit Jim Peaco; June 22, 2006; Catalog #20386d; Original #IT8M4075

Old Faithful in eruption
Old Faithful in eruption
Old Faithful in eruption
Old Faithful in eruption

Old Faithful Geyser in eruption. Under Yellowstone Research Permit YELL-SCI-8030, 13 mineralized wood specimens were collected from the geyser mound. The dates of the mineralized wood samples imply that such eruptions did not take place for over a century between the mid-13th to mid-14th centuries.

Old Faithful Geyser in eruption. Under Yellowstone Research Permit YELL-SCI-8030, 13 mineralized wood specimens were collected from the geyser mound. The dates of the mineralized wood samples imply that such eruptions did not take place for over a century between the mid-13th to mid-14th centuries.

Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.
Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in 1975.

Rangers attempting to clean trash out of Morning Glory Pool in September 1975. National Park Service photograph Dan Ing.

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring, Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park.  Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone and the third largest in the world. Photograph by Robert Fournier.

Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions
Map of the known ash-fall boundaries for several U.S. eruptions

Eruptions of the Yellowstone volcanic system have included the two largest volcanic eruptions in North America in the past few million years; the third largest was at Long Valley in California and produced the Bishop ash bed. The biggest of the Yellowstone eruptions occurred 2.1 million years ago, depositing the Huckleberry Ridge ash bed.

Eruptions of the Yellowstone volcanic system have included the two largest volcanic eruptions in North America in the past few million years; the third largest was at Long Valley in California and produced the Bishop ash bed. The biggest of the Yellowstone eruptions occurred 2.1 million years ago, depositing the Huckleberry Ridge ash bed.

Two photos comparing "cinders" (small spherules) with black cinders on one side and yellow on the other.
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park
Comparison of sulfur "cinders" from two different hot springs in Yellowstone National Park

A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right).  The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.

A comparison of black cinders from Cinder Pool, in Norris Geyser Basin (left), with yellow cinders from an unnamed pool in the West Nymph Creek thermal area (right).  The Cinder Pool cinders are black due to finely dispersed pyrite, whereas the yellow color of cinders from the West Nymph Creek pool is due to the lack of pyrite.

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field
Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Volcanic Field

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Group from the Heise volcanic field, which preceded the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field.  Most of the cliffs exposed here are rhyolitic, densely welded, rhyolitic pyroclastic density flow deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2005).

Heise cliffs, the type location for the 4.45–7.0 million year old Heise Group from the Heise volcanic field, which preceded the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field.  Most of the cliffs exposed here are rhyolitic, densely welded, rhyolitic pyroclastic density flow deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2005).

Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Densely welded rhyolites from the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain
Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain

Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain showing a thick sequence of 10-12 million-year-old, densely welded, pyroclastic density flow units (darker units from middle of photo to top of hill) overlying a thick sequence of white, friable, ash fall deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2004).

Exposure of rhyolite volcanic rocks in the central Snake River Plain showing a thick sequence of 10-12 million-year-old, densely welded, pyroclastic density flow units (darker units from middle of photo to top of hill) overlying a thick sequence of white, friable, ash fall deposits.  USGS Photo by L. A. Morgan (May 2004).

Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park.
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park

Angel Terrace, Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park. Travertine deposits are abundant in the area. Photo by JoAnn Holloway, 2003.

large mountain with patchy snow under blue sky and sagebrush and some low trees in the foreground
Western face of Mount Moran, Teton Range, Wyoming
Western face of Mount Moran, Teton Range, Wyoming
Western face of Mount Moran, Teton Range, Wyoming

Image of the western face of Mount Moran. Note the dark stripe that marks a mafic intrusion (the “diabase dike”) and the vestiges of the Cambrian-aged Flathead Sandstone Formation (about 50 vertical feet in thickness) at the summit.

Image of the western face of Mount Moran. Note the dark stripe that marks a mafic intrusion (the “diabase dike”) and the vestiges of the Cambrian-aged Flathead Sandstone Formation (about 50 vertical feet in thickness) at the summit.

Black and white simplified geological map
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park
Simplified geologic map of Sepulcher Mountain area, northern Yellowstone National Park

Simplified geologic map detailing locations of volcanics at Sepulcher Mountain and igneous intrusion at Electric Peak and surrounding area. This map is Fig. 2.

Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park
Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park

Slow cooling of a basaltic lava flow that was erupted about 500,000 years ago resulted in the formation of hexagonal columns at Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park.

Slow cooling of a basaltic lava flow that was erupted about 500,000 years ago resulted in the formation of hexagonal columns at Sheepeater Cliff, in Yellowstone National Park.

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