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San Francisco Volcanic Field

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 35.347°N
  • 111.678°W

  • 3,850 m
    12,631 ft

  • 329020
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for San Francisco Volcanic Field.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for San Francisco Volcanic Field.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for San Francisco Volcanic Field.

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

There is data available for 1 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1075 ± 25 years Confirmed Eruption VEI: 4 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Sunset Crater and SE-trending fissures
1075 ± 25 years - Unknown Evidence from Correlation: Magnetism

List of 7 Events for Episode 1 at Sunset Crater and SE-trending fissures

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Scoria
   - - - -    - - - - Property Damage
   - - - -    - - - - Evacuations
1075 ± 25 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for San Francisco Volcanic Field.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for San Francisco Volcanic Field.

Photo Gallery

Snow-mantled Sunset Crater (left-center), seen from O'Leary Peak to the NW, is the youngest volcanic feature of the San Francisco Mountain volcanic field, which covers a vast area of northern Arizona between Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. The Sunset Crater eruption began about 1100 CE from a chain of cinder cones and vents trending NW-SE, the largest of which is Sunset Crater. Three lava flows were erupted, the longest of which traveled 11 km to the NE.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1973 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The 60-m-deep Gyp Crater in the foreground is located at about the midpoint of a 10-km-long eruptive fissure extending SE from Sunset Crater, the unvegetated cinder cone at the left-center. Paleomagnetic evidence places the age of the Sunset Crater eruption at between about 1080 and 1150 CE. O'Leary Peak, a Pleistocene lava dome, forms the prominent peak in the right background.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1973 (U.S. Geological Survey).
Sunset Crater at the upper right is seen in this aerial view along a 10-km-long eruptive fissure extending to its SE. An eruption from Gyp Crater, immediately behind the left rim of the snow-dappled Pleistocene Double Crater in the foreground, occurred along the SE-trending fissure. Snow-capped San Francisco Mountain appears in the background at the upper left.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1973 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The snow-drapped symmetrical cinder cone at the left side of the photo is Sunset Crater, Arizona's most recently active volcano. The broad snow-capped mountain in the background to the west, behind and to the right of Sunset Crater, is San Francisco Mountain. It is the centerpiece of the San Francisco Mountain volcanic field, which covers 5000 km2 of northern Arizona. The massive eroded Pleistocene stratovolcano is Arizona's highest peak. The peak on the right horizon is O'Leary Peak, a Pleistocene rhyodacitic lava dome complex.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1970 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The rugged Bonito lava flow in the foreground was erupted from Sunset Crater in two stages. The flow originated from vents at the west to NW base of Sunset Crater, which is out of view to the right. The peak beyond the flow to the north is O'Leary Peak, which consists of two rhyodacitic lava domes of Pleistocene age. O'Leary Peak is the NE-most silicic center in the San Francisco Mountain volcanic field.

Photo by Richard Moore, 1975 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The Sunset Crater eruption is considered from paleomagnetic evidence to have begun about 1080-1150 CE. The Bonito lava flow in the foreground originated from Sunset Crater, the cinder cone in the background. The Sunset Crater eruption produced a blanket of ash and lapilli covering an area of more than 2100 km2 and forced the abandonment of settlements of the indigenous Sinagua Indians.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1977 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The Bonita lava flow in the foreground of this view from O'Leary Peak, NW of Sunset Crater, was erupted from two or more vents on the western to NW flank of Sunset Crater. The flow contains both scoria-mantled portions erupted concurrently with major explosive activity from Sunset Crater and darker, scoria-free portions erupted during later stages of the eruption. Portions of the scoria-mantled flow were broken away and rafted along during the late-stage lava extrusion.

Photo by Ed Wolfe, 1977 (U.S. Geological Survey).
Sunset Crater (left) and adjacent cinder cones are seen here from the west across the meadows of Bonito Park. Sunset Crater and adjacent cones were erupted along a 10-km-long, NW-SE-trending line, with Sunset Crater being the NW-most vent. The Sunset Crater eruptions severly affected Sinagua Indians living in the area, who temporarily evacuated the region.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution).
Sunset Crater, seen here from the NE, is the centerpiece of Sunset Crater National Monument. During the 1920's, geologist H.S. Colton successfully lobbied to prevent a Hollywood movie company from blowing up the cone to simulate a volcanic eruption. The monument was subsequently established to protect the cone. The proximal part of the Kana-a lava flow, erupted from a vent on the NE flank, is buried here by tephra. The flow was the longest from the Sunset Crater vent system and traveled 11 km to the NE.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 205 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 117806-1334 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117806-1335 Basalt -- --
NMNH 117806-1336 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118009-1 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-10 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-11 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-12 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-13 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-14 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118009-15 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-16 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-17 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-18 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-19 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-2 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-20 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-21 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-22 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-23 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-24 Pyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-25 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-26 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-27 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-28 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-29 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118009-3 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118009-30 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-31 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-31 Peridotite -- --
NMNH 118009-4 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118009-5 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-6 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-7 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118009-8 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118009-9 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-1 Peridotite -- --
NMNH 118010-10 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-100 Clinopyroxenite (?) -- --
NMNH 118010-101 Olivine Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-102 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-103 Lherzolite -- --
NMNH 118010-104 Wehrlite (?) -- --
NMNH 118010-105 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-106 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-107 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-108 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-109 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-11 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-110 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-111 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-112 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-113 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-114 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-115 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-116 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-117 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-118 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-119 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-12 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-120 Granulite (?) -- --
NMNH 118010-121 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-122 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-123 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-124 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-125 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-126 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-127 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-128 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-129 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-13 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-130 Dunite (?) -- --
NMNH 118010-131 Pyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-132 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-133 Granulite (?) -- --
NMNH 118010-134 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-135 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-136 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-137 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-138 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-139 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-14 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-140 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-141 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-142 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-143 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-144 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-145 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-146 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-147 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-148 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-149 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-15 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-150 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-151 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-152 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-153 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-154 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-155 Pumice -- --
NMNH 118010-156 Pumice -- --
NMNH 118010-157 Pumice -- --
NMNH 118010-158 Scoria -- --
NMNH 118010-159 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-16 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-17 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-18 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-19 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-2 Pyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-20 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-21 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-22 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-23 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-24 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-25 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-26 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-27 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-28 Olivine Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-29 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-3 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-30 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-31 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-32 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-33 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-34 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-35 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-36 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-37 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-38 Hornblendite -- --
NMNH 118010-39 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-4 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-40 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-41 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-42 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-43 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-44 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-45 Olivine Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-46 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-47 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-48 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-49 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-5 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-50 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-51 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-52 Olivine Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-53 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-54 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-55 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-56 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-57 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-58 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-59 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-6 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-60 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-61 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-62 Olivine Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-63 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-64 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-65 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-66 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-67 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-68 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-69 Phlogopite -- --
NMNH 118010-7 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-70 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-71 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-72 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-73 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-74 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-75 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-76 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-77 Basalt -- --
NMNH 118010-78 Gabbro-Norite -- --
NMNH 118010-79 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-8 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-80 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-81 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-82 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-83 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-84 Gabbro-Norite -- --
NMNH 118010-85 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-86 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-87 Gabbroic Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-88 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-89 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-9 Clinopyroxene -- --
NMNH 118010-90 Dunite -- --
NMNH 118010-91 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-92 Pyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-93 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-94 Granulite -- --
NMNH 118010-95 Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-96 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 118010-97 Olivine Clinopyroxenite -- --
NMNH 118010-98 Websterite -- --
NMNH 118010-99 Wehrlite -- --
NMNH 68375 Basalt Lava -- --
NMNH 68375 Basalt Lava -- --
NMNH 68375 Basalt Lava -- --
NMNH 68376 Lapilli -- --
NMNH 68377 Lapilli -- --
NMNH 68378 Volcanic Bomb -- --
NMNH 68381 Basalt Lava -- --
NMNH 68381 Basalt Lava -- --
NMNH 68383 Lava -- --
NMNH 68383 Lava -- --
NMNH 68445 Tuff -- --
External Sites