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Buzzard Creek

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5 km
3 mi
Leaflet U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey | Policies

Facts

  • Seismically Monitored: No
  • Color Code: UNASSIGNED
  • Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
  • Elevation: 830m (2723ft)
  • Latitude: 64.061082
  • Longitude: -148.431932
  • Smithsonian VNum: 315001
  • Pronunciation:
  • Nearby Towns:
    • Ferry 16 mi (25 km) SW
    • Healy 21 mi (35 km) SW
    • Denali Borough 22 mi (35 km) SW
    • McKinley Park 27 mi (43 km) SW
    • Anderson 30 mi (48 km) NW

    Distance from Anchorage: 202 mi (325 km)

Description

From Wood and Kienle (1990) [1] : "The Buzzard Creek craters are two tuff rings at the headwaters of Buzzard Creek, a tributary of the Totatlanika River, near Healy at the northern foot of the central Alaska Range. The two craters are shallow and contain small lakes. Rim ejecta contain 80% country rock fragments and 20% juvenile basaltic material, suggesting a phreatomagmatic origin. The basalt rests on the youngest glacial terraces on Buzzard Creek, which are correlated with the Riley Creek glaciation that ended ~10,000 yr BP. Three C14 dates from charcoal samples above and below the basaltic ejecta give an age of eruption of ~3,000 yr BP, in agreement with stratigraphic evidence of a Holocene age. A 300-m-wide ejecta blanket associated with the larger crater can be traced 1.6 km from the vent. The total volume of the ejecta probably does not exceed 1 million cubic m, of which only 20% is volcanic, consisting of vesicular basalt lapilli and small bombs.
"The Buzzard Creek craters, though insignificant in the volume of ejecta, are of regional tectonic interest because they occur on trend with the Aleutian arc structure and are situated directly over the northernmost corner of the subducting Pacific plate. The easternmost known volcano of the Aleutian arc is Hayes volcano, 320 km southwest of the Buzzard Creek craters. Whether the craters are tectonically linked to the Aleutian subduction zone is not clear."

Name Origin

The Buzzard Creek craters are informally named after the nearby Buzzard Creek. Buzzard Creek was named by early prospectors, and reported as a place name in 1907 (Brooks, Orth, 1971).

References Cited

[1] Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada, 1990

Wood, C. A., and Kienle, Juergen, (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: New York, Cambridge University Press, 354 p.

Reported Activity

Modern Eruptions

1 Event Date(s)

Past Activity Legend:
Eruption
Questionable eruption
Non-eruptive activity


Showing 1 - 11 of 11

Map Images

Map References

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1998

Nye, C. J., Queen, Katherine, and McCarthy, A. M., 1998, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=7043 .
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1995

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 1995, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000.

Simple Bouger gravity anomaly maps of the Nenana Basin area, Alaska, 1991

Valin, Z. C., Bader, J. W., Barnes, D. F., Fisher, B., and Stanley, R. G., 1991, Simple Bouger gravity anomaly maps of the Nenana Basin area, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 91-0033, unpaged, 5 sheets, scale approx. 1:525000 and 1:262500.

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Luedke, R. G., and Smith, R. L., 1986, Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 1091-F, unpaged, 3 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.

Geothermal energy resources of Alaska, 1980

Turner, D. L., Forbes, R. B., Albanese, Mary, Macbeth, Joyce, Lockhart, A. B., and Seed, S. M., 1980, Geothermal energy resources of Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 279, 19 p., 3 sheets, scale 1 at 1:2,500,000.

Geologic map of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska, 1966

Pewe, T., Wahrhaftig, C., and Weber, F., 1966, Geologic map of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 0455, 4 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

References

The crustal magmatic structure beneath the Denali Volcanic Gap imaged by a dense linear seismic array, 2023

Rabade, S., Lin, F.-C., Tape, C., Ward, K.M., Waldien, T., and Allam, A., 2023, The crustal magmatic structure beneath the Denali Volcanic Gap imaged by a dense linear seismic array: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth v. 128, no. 12, e2023JB027152. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023JB027152

Geologic database of information on volcanoes in Alaska (GeoDIVA), 2022

Cameron, C.E., Crass, S.W., and AVO Staff, eds, 2022, Geologic database of information on volcanoes in Alaska (GeoDIVA): Alaska Division of Geologic and Geophysical Surveys Digital Data Series 20, https://doi.org/10.14509/geodiva, https://doi.org/10.14509/30901.

Segmentation of the Aleutian-Alaska subduction zone revealed by full-wave ambient noise tomography: implications for the along-strike variation of volcanism, 2020

Yang Xiaotao, and Gao Haiying, 2020, Segmentation of the Aleutian-Alaska subduction zone revealed by full-wave ambient noise tomography: implications for the along-strike variation of volcanism: Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, v. 125, no. 11, p. 25. doi.org/10.1029/2020JB019677.

Geochemistry of some Quaternary lavas from the Aleutian Arc and Mt. Wrangell, 2018

Nye, C.J., Beget, J.E., Layer, P.W., Mangan, M.T., McConnell, V.S., McGimsey, R.G., Miller, T.P., Moore, R.B., and Stelling, P.L., 2018, Geochemistry of some quaternary lavas from the Aleutian Arc and Mt. Wrangell: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Raw Data File 2018-1, 29 p. http://doi.org/10.14509/29843

2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment, 2018

Ewert, J.W., Diefenbach, A.K., and Ramsey, D.W., 2018, 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5140, 40 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2018/5140/sir20185140.pdf.

Alaska Volcano Observatory image database, 2016

Cameron, C.E., and Snedigar, S.F., 2016, Alaska Volcano Observatory image database: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Digital Data Series 13, https://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/. https://doi.org/10.14509/29689.

Preliminary database of Quaternary vents in Alaska, 2014

Cameron, C.E., and Nye, C.J., 2014, Preliminary database of Quaternary vents in Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 153, 11 p., doi:10.14509/27357 .

Upper plate proxies for flat-slab subduction processes in southern Alaska, 2011

Finzel, E.S., Trop, J.M., Ridgway, K.D., and Enkelmann, Eva, 2011, Upper plate proxies for flat-slab subduction processes in southern Alaska: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 303, n. 3-4, p. 348-360, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2011.01.014 .

40Ar/39Ar eruption ages and geochemical characteristics of Late Tertiary to Quaternary intraplate and arc-related lavas in interior Alaska, 2010

Andronikov, A.V., and Mukasa, S.B., 2010, 40Ar/39Ar eruption ages and geochemical characteristics of Late Tertiary to Quaternary intraplate and arc-related lavas in interior Alaska: Lithos, v. 115, p. 1-14, doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2009.11.002 .

Preliminary spreadsheet of eruption source parameters for volcanoes of the world, 2009

Mastin, L.G., Guffanti, Marianne, Ewert, J.E., and Spiegel, Jessica, 2009, Preliminary spreadsheet of eruption source parameters for volcanoes of the world: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1133, v. 1.2, 25 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1133/ .

The (super 40) Ar/ (Super 39) Ar chronology and eruption rates of Cenozoic volcanism in the eastern Bering Sea Volcanic Province, Alaska, 2007

Mukasa, S.B., Andronikov, A.V., and Hall, C.M., 2007, The (super 40) Ar/ (Super 39) Ar chronology and eruption rates of Cenozoic volcanism in the eastern Bering Sea Volcanic Province, Alaska: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 112, 18 p., doi: 10.1029/2006JB004452, 2007.

System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes, 2007

Ewert, John, 2007, System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes: Natural Hazards Review, v. 8, n. 4, p. 112-124.

Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions, 2003

Siebert, L., and Simkin, T., 2002-, Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series GVP-3, http://volcano.si.edu/search_volcano.cfm, unpaged internet resource.

Bibliography of information on Alaska volcanoes, 2003

Cameron, C. E., Triplehorn, J. H., and Robar, C. L., 2003, Bibliography of information on Alaska volcanoes: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication MP 131, 1 CD-ROM.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

The Denali volcanic gap: magmatism at the eastern end of the Aleutian Arc, 1999

Nye, C. J., 1999, The Denali volcanic gap: magmatism at the eastern end of the Aleutian Arc [abs.]: Eos, v. 80, n. 46, p. 1202.

Magmatism at the eastern end of the Aleutian Arc: implications for the western Alaska Range volcanic gap, 1999

Nye, C. J., 1999, Magmatism at the eastern end of the Aleutian Arc: implications for the western Alaska Range volcanic gap [abs.]: in Severin, Barb and Anderson, P. M., (eds.), Science in the north: 50 years of change, Arctic Science Conference, 50, Program and Abstracts, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK, Sept 19-22, 1999, p. 178-180.

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1998

Nye, C. J., Queen, Katherine, and McCarthy, A. M., 1998, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=7043 .
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1995

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 1995, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000.

Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994

Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Simple Bouger gravity anomaly maps of the Nenana Basin area, Alaska, 1991

Valin, Z. C., Bader, J. W., Barnes, D. F., Fisher, B., and Stanley, R. G., 1991, Simple Bouger gravity anomaly maps of the Nenana Basin area, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 91-0033, unpaged, 5 sheets, scale approx. 1:525000 and 1:262500.

Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada, 1990

Wood, C. A., and Kienle, Juergen, (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: New York, Cambridge University Press, 354 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Luedke, R. G., and Smith, R. L., 1986, Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 1091-F, unpaged, 3 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.

The geology of three extrusive bodies in the Central Alaska Range, 1980

Albanese, Mary, 1980, The geology of three extrusive bodies in the Central Alaska Range: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, 104 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Geothermal energy resources of Alaska, 1980

Turner, D. L., Forbes, R. B., Albanese, Mary, Macbeth, Joyce, Lockhart, A. B., and Seed, S. M., 1980, Geothermal energy resources of Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 279, 19 p., 3 sheets, scale 1 at 1:2,500,000.

Geologic map of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska, 1966

Pewe, T., Wahrhaftig, C., and Weber, F., 1966, Geologic map of the Fairbanks quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 0455, 4 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000.

Before an eruption

Ashfall & Preparedness Information

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