Volcano Type: Volcanic field
Volcano Status: Tephrochronology
Last Known Eruption: 5550 BC ± 1000 years
Summit Elevation: 2886 m 9,468 feet
Latitude: 36.358°N * 36°21’30″N
Longitude: 118.32°W 118°19’0″W
The Golden Trout Creek volcanic field consists of a group of Quaternary alkali olivine basaltic cinder cones and lava flows in the Toowa valley of the Sierra Nevada about 25 km south of Mount Whitney. Lava flows from the Golden Trout Creek volcanic field erupted through Mesozoic granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada batholith during several episodes dating back to about 743,000 years ago, when the Little Whitney cinder cone and lava flows were erupted. The South Fork cone was erupted about 176,000 years ago and produced the largest lava flow of the volcanic field, which traveled 10 km to the west, possibly as far as the floor of Kern Canyon. Tunnel cone to the north of South Fork (Red Hill) cone is undated, but its lava flow is overlain by glacial deposits and it is thought to be only slightly younger than South Fork cone. The youngest lava flow, from Groundhog cone, is unglaciated and thought to be about 5-10,000 years old (Moore and Lanphere 1983). The lava flow from Groundhog cone traveled 6 km west down Golden Trout Creek on top of the older flow from South Fork cone.
The volcano consists of a group of cinder cones and lava flows in the Toowa Valley. Toowa Valley is broad and open, about 8600 feet high, with cones 400-600 feet above the valley floor. Four volcanic centres are identified at Golden Trout Creek Volcano. Three eruption phases occurred at the volcanic centre. A small cone of cinders about 15 m high is constructed on a low ridge of quartz. Pumiceous, olivine basalt, flowed over the low cinder cone rim. Olivine basalt erupted from the central vent adjacent to the quartz ridge and extended north and south, forming layers 3 m thick.
Originally posted 2010-08-29 03:18:34.
