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Twin Buttes

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 40.777°N
  • 121.591°W

  • 1631 m
    5351 ft

  • 323040
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Twin Buttes.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Twin Buttes.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Twin Buttes.

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.

Eruptive History

The Global Volcanism Program is not aware of any Holocene eruptions from Twin Buttes. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 10,000 years ago, information might be found on the Twin Buttes page in the LaMEVE (Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions) database, a part of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Twin Buttes.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Twin Buttes.

Photo Gallery

The broad forested area in the Falls River valley in the upper part of the photo beyond Saddle Mountain, the prominent forested peak at right-center, is the inconspicuous Big Cave shield volcano. The low shield volcano fed lava flows that extend primarily to the north, towards the Pit River. Big Cave is one of several poorly known young Quaternary volcanoes in northern California between Mount Lassen and Medicine Lake volcano. This view looks to the SE from Soldier Mountain, with the town of Fall River Mills in the valley left of Saddle Mountain.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
The many small Quaternary volcanic centers located between Lassen Peak and Medicine Lake volcanoes in northern California include Big Cave, a small low shield volcano seen on the horizon just right of center. Forests blanket a series of basaltic lava flows erupted from the summit of the inconspicuous shield volcano. The prominent peak at the left is Bald Mountain, seen here from the NE.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
Twin Buttes are part of a group of cinder cones near Pleistocene Burney Mountain volcano. North Twin Butte (left) and South Twin Butte (right) rise above flat-lying forests and meadows SE of Burney Mountain. The cones are part of an area of extensive Quaternary volcanism north of the Lassen volcanic field. Twin Buttes and associated lava flows are of late-Pleistocene or early Holocene age.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
Sparsely vegetated andesitic lava flows issued from South Twin Butte, the tree-covered cinder cone in the background. The two Twin Butte cinder cones and associated lava flows are part of a broad area of little-known youthful Quaternary volcanic features north of Lassen Volcanic National Park.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
Twin Buttes, the two cinder cones at left-center, were formed SE of Burney Mountain, the prominent andesitic lava dome complex at the right. Blocky, partially vegetated lava flows extend to the north from the cinder cones. The twin cones are part of a large area of young volcanism located north of Lassen National Park. Burney Mountain is a large dacitic complex of five overlapping lava domes of Pleistocene age.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1998 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites