A now-vanished tectonic plate called the Farallon plate, which once played a crucial role in shaping North America’s West Coast, may still be influencing the continent’s geology. This plate, mostly lost beneath North America, helped form California and powers the Cascade volcanoes. Recent research suggests that the Farallon plate might also be responsible for the Yellowstone hotspot, a volcanic area known for its massive eruptions. Typically, hotspots are fueled by mantle plumes, which are blobs of hot rock rising from deep within the Earth. While most hotspots are found under oceanic crust, Yellowstone is an exception, located under thick continental crust. This unique situation has led to differences in volcanic activity and chemistry between Yellowstone and the nearby Snake River Plain. Understanding this could help explain the unusual volcanic behavior in the region.
QUESTION: How might the continued influence of the Farallon plate affect future volcanic activity at Yellowstone?
New paper argues history, not mantle plume, powers Yellowstone
