Re: Ubehebe not a Volcanoe
Posted by Art on December 18, 2002 at 12:45:09:
In Reply to: Re: Ubehebe not a Volcanoe posted by RiverRat on December 17, 2002 at 17:37:33:
While Ubehebe isn't a classical stratavolcano, shield volcano, or cinder cone; it is classified as a "Maar Volcano". Maar volcanoes usually have low relief and are formed by a phreatic (steam) explosion. When groundwater encounters a magma body near ther surface, steam forms and the pressure builds until it overcomes the weight of the overlying rocks. At this point, it's like pulling the cap off a shaken bottle of soda. There is a blanket of cinders and rock fragments that blanket the land around the crater.
Art