Global Volcanism Program | Markagunt Plateau

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Markagunt Plateau.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Markagunt Plateau.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Markagunt Plateau.

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

Asay Knoll

Cone

2511 m

37° 33' 0" N

112° 34' 0" W

Bowers Knoll

Cone

2604 m

37° 33' 0" N

112° 37' 0" W

Cooper Knoll

Cone

2755 m

37° 43' 0" N

112° 37' 0" W

Henrie Knolls

Cone

2821 m

37° 35' 0" N

112° 40' 0" W

Miller Knoll

Cone

2759 m

37° 40' 0" N

112° 39' 0" W

Panguitch Lake

Lava cone

2762 m

37° 40' 30" N

112° 39' 0" W

Strawberry Knolls

Cone

2580 m

37° 31' 0" N

112° 37' 0" W

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

327040

1050 CE

2,840 m / 9,318 ft

37.58°N
112.67°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Cluster

Volcano Types
Volcanic field

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Trachyte / Trachydacite

Minor
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

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

970
970
1,887
186,184

Geological Summary

The Markagunt Plateau volcanic field, covering 3,000 km² east of Cedar Breaks National Monument in SW Utah, includes basaltic cinder cones, lava vents, and sparsely vegetated lava flows. Products of an older episode of volcanism producing trachytic, andesitic and rhyolitic lavas that were succeeded by basaltic lavas of two different ages. Several lines of NE-SW-trending cinder cones occur within the volcanic field, with the youngest flows being located near Panguitch Lake on the north and Navajo Lake on the south. Navajo Lake formed when a thick blocky flow dammed Duck Creek. Young lava flows, many of which are fissure fed, have distinct margins and covered or diverted stream drainages, which have for the most part not been reestablished across the flows. Although the precise age of the lava flows is not known, the oldest trees on the youngest flows at Panguitch Lake date to about 1050 CE (Gregory, 1949), consistent with legends of the Southern Paiute (who arrived in the area about 1000 CE) noting ejection of fiery rocks and molten lava flows (Palmer, 1957).

References

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

Biek R F, Rowley P D, Anderson J J, Maldonado F, Moore D W, Eaton J G, Hereford R, Matyjasik B, 2012. Interim geologic map of the Panguitch 30 min x 60 min quadrangle, Garfield, Iron, and Kane counties, Utah. Utah Geol Surv Open-File Rep, 599, 3 plates, 1:65,000 scale, 127 p text).

Gregory H E, 1949. Geologic and geographic reconnaissance of Eastern Markagunt Plateau, Utah. Geol Soc Amer Bull, 60: 969-998.

Hatfield S C, Rowley P D, Sable E G, Maxwell D J, Cox B V, McKell M D, Kiel D E, 2003. Geology of Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah. In: Sprinkel D A, Chidsey T C Jr, Anderson P B (eds) Geology of Utah's Parks and Monuments, Utah Geol Assoc Publ, 28: 139-154.

Johnsen R L, Smith I E, Biek R F, 2010. Subalkaline volcanism in the Black Rock Desert and Markagunt Plateau volcanic fields of south-central Utah. In: Carney S M, Tabet D E, Johnson C L (eds), Geology of South-Central Utah Utah Geol Assoc Pub 39: 109-150.

Moore D W, Nealey L D, Rowley P D, Harfield S C, Maxwell D J, Mitchell E, 2004. Geologic map of the Navajo Lake quadrangle, Kane and Iron Counties, Utah. Utah Geol Surv, map 199, 2 plates, 1:24,000 scale.

Palmer W R, 1957. Why the North Star Stands Still and other Indian legends. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 158 p.

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

Eruptive History

There is data available for 1 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1050 (in or before) Confirmed Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

Panguitch Lake

1050 (in or before) - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Panguitch Lake

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Markagunt Plateau.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Markagunt Plateau.

Photo Gallery

Blocky lava flows from near Miller Knoll reach nearly to Panguitch Lake in the distance to the NE. Lava flows from the same vent traveled down Black Rock Valley to the SE. This extensive lava field is one of the youngest of the Markagunt Plateau volcanic field.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution).

Blocky unvegetated lava flows known as the Black Rock Desert extend from near Miller Knoll to the SE. These flows, which also extend NE to near Panguitch Lake, are among the youngest features of the Markagunt Plateau volcanic field. This is one of several young volcanic fields in SW Utah.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution).

The thick blocky lava flow in the background near Panguitch Lake is the northern lobe of a voluminous flow that originated near Miller Knoll. This flow is only one of several very youthful flows scattered over the Markagunt Plateau volcanic field of SW Utah.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution)

A group of basaltic cinder cones and lava vents on the Markagunt Plateau east of Cedar Breaks National Monument has produced youthful, sparsely vegetated lava flows. Several lines of NE-SW-trending cinder cones are present within the volcanic field, with the youngest flows occurring near Panguitch Lake on the north and Navajo Lake on the south. Navajo Lake (upper right) formed when a thick, blocky flow from a nearby vent dammed Duck Creek. The oldest trees on the youngest flows are about 900 years old.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution)

This unnamed cinder cone in the Sage Valley SE of Cedar Breaks National Monument was the source of one of the youngest lava flows in the Markagunt Plateau volcanic field in SW Utah. Extensive blocky lava flows cover broad areas near Navajo and Panguitch lakes.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1996 (Smithsonian Institution).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Markagunt Plateau 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 Markagunt Plateau. 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 Markagunt Plateau. 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 Markagunt Plateau

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).