The Area of Most Recent Volcanism Near Yucca Mountain, Nevada: Implications for Volcanic Risk Assessment

by Eugene I. Smith, Univ of Nevada, United States,
Daniel L. Feuerbach, Univ of Nevada, United States,
Terry R. Naumann, Univ of Nevada, United States,
James E. Faulds, Univ of Nevada, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: High Level Radioactive Waste Management 1990

Abstract:

The proposed area of most recent volcanism (AMRV) includes all known post-6 Ma volcanic complexes in the Yucca Mountain area and encompasses the four volcanic centers in Crater Flat, the Lathrop Wells cone, several centers in southeast Crater Flat, two centers at Sleeping Butte, and a center at Buckboard Mesa within the moat of the Timber Mountain Caldera. The delineation of high-risk zones for volcanism within the AMRV is an important goal in any risk assessment study. The dimensions and orientation of high-risk zones were based on structural and volcanic chain length data obtained by detailed studies of Plio-Pleistocene volcanic centers in the Yucca Mountain area. Analog studies of Pliocene volcanic centers in the Fortification Hill field (Lake Mead area, Arizona and Nevada) and the Reveille Range (south-central Nevada) were also used to establish the nature of structural control of volcanic vents and to determine the lengths of volcanic chains. Two high-risk rectangles were constructed at each cluster of Quaternary centers.

Subject Headings: Volcanic eruption | Radioactive wastes | Volcanoes | Risk management | Geology | Waste management | Waste disposal | United States | Nevada | Arizona

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