Yellowstone-Style Volcanic Eruptions in Nevada and Their Magma Storage Regions

Presentation: “Yellowstone-Style Volcanic Eruptions in Nevada and Their Magma Storage Regions” by Dr. Madeline Lewis, University of Wyoming

October 7th (Tuesday), 6 p.m., Social half-hour; please join us from 5:30-6:00 to enjoy free soft drinks and appetizers before our talk begins!

Live at the Teton County Library & Via Zoom (online)

Caldera-forming eruptions are among the largest and most disruptive volcanic events in Earth history. Throughout the mid-Cenozoic, the Great Basin experienced an extensive period of explosive silicic volcanism, which produced massive ash-flow tuff deposits and calderas created by ~250 eruptions. Tectonically driven extension and tilting of this region created uniquely exposed cross sections, and occasionally exposed plutonic levels, in caldera-forming volcanic systems. Mineral chemistry and geochronology through cross sections of multiple ancient calderas in central Nevada reveal changes in temperature and volatile content in the magma storage regions leading up to, and following, large eruptions. Though long extinct, these volcanic systems offer insights into magma storage regions that can inform our understanding of magmatic activity at modern explosive silicic volcanoes.

Dr. Lewis in the vent of a supervolcano, pointing to where the Poco Canyon tuff is intruded by its own magmatic system.

Topic: Yellowstone-Style Volcanic Eruptions in Nevada and Their Magma Storage Regions

Time: Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, 06:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4555651818?pwd=U09ObDNZOEIyZmRtMEtsdUowQnJqdz09
Meeting ID: 455 565 1818
Passcode: 576063