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Newberry

Shield in United States

Last Eruption: 690

Key Facts

Elevation

2,434 m (7,986 ft)

Type

Shield

Location

43.722°, -121.229°

Region

High Cascades Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

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Overview

Newberry volcano, situated east of the Cascade Range, covers an area of about 1,600 km2. The low-angle basaltic to basaltic andesite shield volcano includes more than 400 cinder cones, but has also produced major silicic eruptions associated with formation of a 6 x 8 km summit caldera containing two lakes. The earliest eruptive products (less than 0.

73 Ma) consist of a sequence of ash-flow and airfall tuffs. Caldera collapse is thought to be associated with major ash deposits from about 0. 5 and 0.

3-0. 5 Ma. These eruptions were preceded by the emplacement of numerous mafic cones and vents, and silicic lava domes and flows, many of which are aligned NNW and NNE parallel to regional fault zones.

Six major eruptions from the early Holocene to about 1,300 years ago have included both basaltic lava flows from flank vents, the explosive ejection of rhyolitic pumice and pyroclastic flows, and the extrusion of obsidian flows within the caldera.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
    Silica Content
    Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Dated

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity1336 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The North America Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 322110
    • Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Newberry volcano, one of the largest Quaternary volcanoes in the conterminous United States, lies 60 km E of the crest of the Cascade Range in central Oregon. The shield volcano contains a 5 x 7 km caldera with two lakes, Paulina Lake (left) and East Lake (right). Newberry has been active during the Holocene at vents within the caldera that have produced pumice cones and obsidian lava flows (like Obsidian flow to the lower right), and outside the caldera forming scoria cones on its broad flanks.

    Photo by Lee Siebert, 2002 (Smithsonian Institution).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.