Origin of the Columbia Plateau and Snake River plain: Deflection of the Yellowstone plume

Research Article| September 01, 1993 Origin of the Columbia Plateau and Snake River plain: Deflection of the Yellowstone plume Dennis Geist; Dennis Geist 1Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark Richards Mark Richards 2Geophysics Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1993) 21 (9): 789–792. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0789:OOTCPA>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Dennis Geist, Mark Richards; Origin of the Columbia Plateau and Snake River plain: Deflection of the Yellowstone plume. Geology 1993;; 21 (9): 789–792. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0789:OOTCPA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Previous models relating the Snake River plain and Columbia River Basalt (northwest United States) to the Yellowstone plume have not taken into account the effects of the subducted Farallon and Juan de Fuca plates. Not only did subduction shield the surface from mantle plume activity, but it deflected the plume in the direction of plate motion. A variety of geophysical and geologic evidence suggests that the plume penetrated the subducted slab at ∼17.5 Ma, causing eruption of the Columbia River Basalt. The plate boundary then migrated over the plume, and the Yellowstone plume has recovered to a more nearly vertical conduit, forming the Snake River plain and Yellowstone plateau. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.