Prior to the Eocene Epoch (55.8 ± 0.2 to 33.9 ± 0.1 Ma) the convergence rate of the Farallon and North American Plates was fast and the angle of subduction was shallow. During the Eocene the Farallon Platesubduction-associated compressive forces of the Laramide orogeny ended, plate interactions changed from orthogonal compression to oblique strike-slip, and volcanism in the Basin and Range Province flared up. It is suggested that this plate continued to be underthrust until about 19 Ma, at which time it was completely consumed and volcanic activity ceased, in part. Olivine basalt from the oceanic ridge erupted around 17 Ma and extension began.[2][3][4][5][6] The extension resulted in roughly north-south-trending faults, the Great Basin, the Walker trough, the Owensgraben, and the Rio Grande rift, for instance.
List of large volume eruptions in the Basin and Range Province
Yellowstone hotspot (?), Northwest Nevada volcanic field, Virgin Valley, High Rock, Hog Ranch, and unnamed calderas; West of the Pine Forest Range, Nevada; 15.5 to 16.5 Ma; Tuffs: Idaho Canyon, Ashdown, Summit Lake, and Soldier Meadow.[14][15][16][17][18]
Columbia River Basalt Province: Yellowstone hotspot releases a huge pulse of volcanic activity, the first eruptions were near the Oregon-Idaho-Washington border. Columbia River and Steens flood basalts, Pueblo Mountains, Steens Mountain, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho; most vigorous eruptions were from 14 to 17 Ma.[8]
San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 26.8 Ma, 562 km3 (135 cu mi) of Nelson Mountain Tuff.[8][28]
San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 26.9 Ma, 250 km3 (60 cu mi) of Cebola Creek Tuff.[28]
San Luis caldera complex (18 km (11 mi) wide), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27 Ma, 150 km3 (36 cu mi) of Rat Creek Tuff.[8][28]
Three Creeks Caldera (8 km (5.0 mi) wide), Marysvale Volcanic Field, Cove Fort-Sulphurdale area, southwestern Utah; 27 Ma; 100 to 200 km3 (24 to 48 cu mi) of Three Creeks Tuff Member of the Bullion Canyon Volcanics.[8][24]
South River Caldera, Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.1 Ma, more than 500 km3 (120 cu mi) of Wason Park Tuff.[8][28]
Central San Juan Caldera (concealed), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.2 Ma, 250 km3 (60 cu mi) of Blue Creek Tuff.[8][28]
Bachelor Caldera (20 km × 28 km (12 mi × 17 mi)), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.35 Ma; 1,200 km3 (290 cu mi) of Carpenter Ridge Tuff.[29]
Silverton Caldera (20 km (12 mi) wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 27.6 Ma, 50 to 100 km3 (12 to 24 cu mi) of Crystal Lake Tuff.[8][28]
La Garita Caldera (100 km × 35 km (62 mi × 22 mi)), Wheeler Geologic Area, San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; VEI 8; more than 5,000 km3 (1,200 cu mi) of Fish Canyon Tuff was blasted out in a major single eruption about 27.8 Ma.[29][30][31]
San Juan Caldera (22 km × 24 km (14 mi × 15 mi)), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28 Ma; more than 1,000 km3 (240 cu mi) of Sapinero Mesa Tuff.[8]
Bursum Caldera (size: 40 x 30 km), Mogollon-Datil volcanic field, New Mexico; 28.5 Ma ±0.5; 1,200 cubic kilometres (290 cu mi) of Apache Springs Tuff.[8][35]
Summitville Caldera (size: 12 x 8 km), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 28.5 Ma; 100 to 500 cubic kilometers (24 to 120 cu mi) of Ojito Creek/ La Jadero Tuffs.[8][36][37]
Mount Hope (size: 15 km), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 29 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Masonic Park Tuff.[8][25]
Ute Creek (size: 8 km wide), San Juan volcanic field, Colorado; 29 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Ute Ridge Tuff.[8][25]
Platoro calderas (size: 12 x 18 km), San Juan volcanic field, Platoro, Conejos County, Colorado; 29.5 Ma; 500 cubic kilometers (120 cu mi) of Black Mountain Tuff.[8][36][37]
Indian Peak, Eastern Nevada; 29.5 Ma; more than 3,200 cubic kilometers (768 cu mi) of Wah Wah Springs Tuff.[8][39]
Platoro calderas (size: 18 x 22 km), San Juan volcanic field, Platoro, Conejos County, Colorado; 30 Ma; 592 cubic kilometers (142 cu mi) of La Jara Canyon Tuff.[8][29][36]
William's Ridge, Central Nevada; 31.4 Ma; 3,500 cubic kilometres (840 cu mi) of Windous Butte Tuff.[8][41]
North Pass Caldera, Cochetopa Hills, Central Colorado volcanic field; 32.25 Ma; 400 to 500 cubic kilometers (96 to 120 cu mi) of Saguache Creek Tuff.[8][42]
Marshall Creek, Thirtynine Mile volcanic area, Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 33.7 Ma; more than 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Thorn Ranch Tuff.[8][51]
Mount Aetna (size: 10 km wide), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 33.81 Ma, 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Badger Creek Tuff.[8][52]
Grizzly Peak Caldera (size: 12 km wide), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 34.31 Ma; 100 cubic kilometres (24 cu mi) of Grizzly Peak Rhyolite.[8][52]
Juniper Caldera (size: 25 km), Animas Mountains, Hidalgo County, New Mexico; 35 Ma; 500 cubic kilometres (120 cu mi) of Oak Creek Tuff.[8][45]
Mount Princeton (eroded), Central Colorado volcanic field; Colorado; 35.3 Ma ±0.6; more than 1,000 cubic kilometres (240 cu mi) of Wall Mountain Tuff.[8][44][53]
Davis Mountains, Texas; 35.35 Ma ±0.6; 210 cubic kilometres (50 cu mi) of tuffs of Wild Cherry, Lavas of Casket Mountain.[8][54]
Davis Mountains, Texas; 35.61 Ma ±0.09; 200 cubic kilometres (48 cu mi) of Barrel Springs Formation and ash flow tuff.[8][54]
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