Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/black-rock-desert-volcanic-field
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:12
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field | U.S. Geological Survey
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Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
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Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
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The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is located in west-central Utah, between the towns of Cove Fort and Delta.
Quick Facts
Location:
Utah, Millard County
Latitude:
38.97° N
Longitude:
112.5° W
Elevation:
1,800 (m) 5,906 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
~10,000 years ago
Nearby towns:
Flowell
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View Media Details
Ice Springs cinder cone and lava flow erupted 720 years ago in the Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah.
The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km
2
(2,700 mi
2
) and is 145 km (90 mi) long. Black Rock Desert has been active for over six million years but has only been continuously active since 2.7 Ma. The first eruptions occurred in the north, forming the Topaz Mountain rhyolite lava domes and North Butte basalt flow at around 6.1 Ma. The latest eruptions took place in the central portion of the volcanic field about 10,000 years ago and formed the basalt cinder cones and flows of Ice Springs. Black Rock Desert is distinct from most other young volcanic fields in Utah in that it contains not only basalt and andesite, but also dacite and rhyolite. Eruptions are dominantly monogenetic, but some are more complex. Black Rock Desert is host to a variety of volcano types, including cinder cones, shield volcanoes, lava domes, maars (explosion craters), and a caldera. Lava tubes are preserved in some of the younger volcanoes.
The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is host to two other interesting features unrelated to volcanism: the presence of ubiquitous petroglyphs and the presence of shorelines engraved in the rocks, which are from the ancient Lake Bonneville. Lake Bonneville, present in Black Rock Desert from around 22,000 to around 12,000 years ago, is related to the Pleistocene Ice Ages. Erosional processes from shoreline action and deposits from the ancient lake remove or hide evidence of volcanic vent deposits, such as cinder cones, for all but the youngest eruptions. Petroglyphs are commonly found near old Lake Bonneville shorelines on boulders of basalt.
October 5, 2023
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km2 (2,700 mi) and is 145 km (90 mi) long.
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
October 5, 2023
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km2 (2,700 mi) and is 145 km (90 mi) long.
Learn More
Quick Facts
Location:
Utah, Millard County
Latitude:
38.97° N
Longitude:
112.5° W
Elevation:
1,800 (m) 5,906 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
~10,000 years ago
Nearby towns:
Flowell
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
Results
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Settings
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
x
Map Legend
x
Map Legend
Results
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Home
Science
Publications
Connect
The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is located in west-central Utah, between the towns of Cove Fort and Delta.
Quick Facts
Location:
Utah, Millard County
Latitude:
38.97° N
Longitude:
112.5° W
Elevation:
1,800 (m) 5,906 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
~10,000 years ago
Nearby towns:
Flowell
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
Media
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.
View Media Details
Ice Springs cinder cone and lava flow erupted 720 years ago in the Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah.
The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km
2
(2,700 mi
2
) and is 145 km (90 mi) long. Black Rock Desert has been active for over six million years but has only been continuously active since 2.7 Ma. The first eruptions occurred in the north, forming the Topaz Mountain rhyolite lava domes and North Butte basalt flow at around 6.1 Ma. The latest eruptions took place in the central portion of the volcanic field about 10,000 years ago and formed the basalt cinder cones and flows of Ice Springs. Black Rock Desert is distinct from most other young volcanic fields in Utah in that it contains not only basalt and andesite, but also dacite and rhyolite. Eruptions are dominantly monogenetic, but some are more complex. Black Rock Desert is host to a variety of volcano types, including cinder cones, shield volcanoes, lava domes, maars (explosion craters), and a caldera. Lava tubes are preserved in some of the younger volcanoes.
The Black Rock Desert volcanic field is host to two other interesting features unrelated to volcanism: the presence of ubiquitous petroglyphs and the presence of shorelines engraved in the rocks, which are from the ancient Lake Bonneville. Lake Bonneville, present in Black Rock Desert from around 22,000 to around 12,000 years ago, is related to the Pleistocene Ice Ages. Erosional processes from shoreline action and deposits from the ancient lake remove or hide evidence of volcanic vent deposits, such as cinder cones, for all but the youngest eruptions. Petroglyphs are commonly found near old Lake Bonneville shorelines on boulders of basalt.
October 5, 2023
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km2 (2,700 mi) and is 145 km (90 mi) long.
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
October 5, 2023
Geology and History of Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
Black Rock Desert volcanic field is the northernmost volcanic field in a belt of young volcanic fields beginning in the northern Grand Canyon of Arizona and continuing in a north-trending line through Utah. Part of the eastern Basin and Range Province, the Black Rock Desert volcanic field covers nearly 7,000 km2 (2,700 mi) and is 145 km (90 mi) long.
Learn More
Quick Facts
Location:
Utah, Millard County
Latitude:
38.97° N
Longitude:
112.5° W
Elevation:
1,800 (m) 5,906 (f)
Volcano type:
volcanic field
Composition:
basalt
Most recent eruption:
~10,000 years ago
Nearby towns:
Flowell
Threat Potential:
Moderate*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?