Global Volcanism Program | Diamond Craters

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Diamond Craters.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Diamond Craters.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Diamond Craters.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

322170

5610 BCE

1,435 m / 4,708 ft

43.1°N
118.75°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Volcanic field

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

66
66
136
6,969

Geological Summary

Diamond Craters volcanic field consists of a 70 km² area of basaltic lava flows along with numerous cinder cones and maars located between the SE Oregon town of Burns and Steens Mountain. A basaltic pahoehoe lava field is overlain by deposits from phreatomagmatic and Strombolian eruptions that formed a late-stage central vent complex of about 20 craters and cones that densely fill a 1.1 x 1.6 km caldera. The age is constrained to within 7,320-7,790 calibrated years Before Present by radiocarbon-dated floodplain deposits below the lava flows and paloemagnetic evidence (Sherrod et al., 2012). Doming has created a series of six overlapping topographic highs. The highest of these is known as Graben Dome; its summit is cut by a NW-SE graben 0.4 x 2.1 km long and 30 m deep. Lava flows on the E side of the field, scattered cinder cones, and maars formed during the last stage of activity.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Benedict E, 2000. Diamond Craters, Oregon's geologic gem. U S Bur Land Management brochure BLM/OR/WA/GI-00/027-1122.32.

Chitwood L A, 1994. Inflated basaltic lava--examples of processes and landforms from central and southeast Oregon. Oregon Geol, 56: 11-21.

Friedman I, Peterson N, 1971. Obsidian hydration dating applied to dating of basaltic volcanic activity. Science, 172: 1028.

Green J, Short N M, 1971. Volcanic Landforms and Surface Features: a Photographic Atlas and Glossary. New York: Springer-Verlag, 519 p.

Russell J K, Nicholls J, 1987. Early crystallization history of alkali olivine basalts, Diamond Craters, Oregon. Geochim Cosmochim Acta, 51: 143-154.

Sarna-Wojcicki A M, Champion D E, Davis J O, 1983. Holocene volcanism in the conterminous United States and the role of silicic volcanic ash layers in correlation of latest Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. In: Wright H E (ed) Late-Quaternary Environments of the United States, Minneapolis: Univ Minnesota Press, 2: 52-77.

Sherrod D R, Champion D E, McGeehin J P, 2012. Age and duration of volcanic activity at Diamond Craters, southeastern Oregon. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 247-248: 108-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.08.008

Smith R L, Shaw H R, 1975. Igneous-related geothermal systems. U S Geol Surv Circ, 726: 58-83.

Smith R L, Shaw H R, Luedke R G, Russell S L, 1978. Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States. U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt, 78-925: 1-25.

Smith W D, 1927. Contribution to the geology of southeastern Oregon (Steens and Pueblo Mountains). J Geol, 35: 421-440.

Wood C A, Kienle J (eds), 1990. Volcanoes of North America. Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ Press, 354 p.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 1 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

5610 BCE ± 470 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

5610 BCE ± 470 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Big Bomb Crater

Pyroclastic cone

1308 m

Lava Pit Crater

Shield volcano

1305 m

Red Bomb Crater

Pyroclastic cone

1323 m

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Central Crater Complex

Caldera

1378 m

Diamond Pond (Malheur Maar)

Maar

1286 m

Dry Maar

Maar

1268 m

East Twin Crater

Maar

1326 m

Keyhole Explosion Crater

Crater

Malheur Maar

Maar

1286 m

Nolf Crater

Maar

Oval Crater

Crater

West Twin Crater

Maar

1326 m

Photo Gallery

Lava flows of West Dome, one the structural highpoints of Diamond Craters, rise NE of lake-filled Malheur Maar. The shallow 2-m-deep lake occupies one of many maars (the rest of which are dry) of the Diamond Craters volcanic field at the time of this 2002 photo. Diamond Craters consists of a 70 km² area of basaltic lava flows, scoria cones, and maars. The initial eruptions of pahoehoe lava flows and later activity involved magma injection that produced six structural highs of up to 150 m.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).

The 70 km² Diamond Craters volcanic field in Oregon, USA, is shown in this October 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 15 km across). The area was uplifted to produce graben structures cross-cutting the lavas in NW-SE direction. Numerous smaller vents including spatter and phreatomagmatic craters, and cones occur along the margins of the uplifted area aligned with the structural trend.

Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Diamond Craters in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

IRIS seismic stations/networks

Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Diamond Craters. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations

Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Diamond Craters. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player.

DECADE Data

The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO₂ to the atmosphere, but installing CO₂ monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere.

Large Eruptions of Diamond Craters

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).