are a 30 mile wide volcanic field with many separate small volcanoes, rather than one giant volcano. Here we reconstruct one of the youngest eruptions in the Pinacate volcanic field (Sonora, Mexico)and estimate the volumes of the lava flows, scoria cone, and tephra units. The crater rim in the center of the photo is that of Crater Elegante, a 1.6-km-wide maar. This giant maar-caldera and the trachyte shield volcano on the horizon are two of the features that make what Sykes called "The Pinacate Lava Fields” extraordinary. The Pleistocene-Holocene Pinacate volcanic field encroaches on the Gran Desierto of Sonora, Mexico. The volcanoes in the Pinacate are monogenetic—meaning they erupt only once and each have a unique magmatic signature. Pinacate Volcanic Field, Mexico. [4], The El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve is a biosphere reserve, in the spanish language Reserva de la Biosfera el Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar, managed by the Mexican Federal Government's SEMARNAT - the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the government of the State of Sonora's IMADES agency. [5], El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve. Maar-calderas created by steam activity are common enough to be considered major features of monogenetic volcanic fields; sixteen of those "Fifty Fields" have them. Determining the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages of young basaltic volcanic rocks is complicated by many factors, including the possible presence of excess argon and low potassium content. Dan Lynch’s love affair with the Pinacate Volcanic Field – Pinacate in Stereo. The Pinacates (the name means stink bug!) The Mexican Spanish word pinacate is derived from the Nahuatl word for the endemic desert stink beetle, pinacatl. Crater Elegante: a maar volcano in the Quaternary Pinacate volcanic field on the Arizona-Mexico frontier. I reconstructed the third youngest eruption in the PVF. The shield Volcan Santa Clara is the largest volcano in the field and is pimpled with smaller cinder cones. These magmas were evolved from basalt by fractional crystallization and constitute the entire alkaline rock series from basalt to trachyte. The source vent of the eruption is Tecolote volcano (27 ± 6 ka, 40Ar/39Ar). The field covers 1800 km2 of desert. Padre Eusebio Kino, founder of many Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert, explored here in 1698 and several times later. The field covers an area of about 60 x 55 km and has been active less than 10,000 years ago. The pockmarked terrain of Pinacate National Park in Mexico's Sonora Province is evidence of a violent past. The cones are monogenetic, each is the product of a single, short eruption of a unique batch of magma that produced less (usually much less) than a tenth cubic km of rock. The volcanoes here have erupted here sporadically since about 4 million years ago, probably in association with the opening of the Gulf of California. The Pinacate Peaks lie just north of the fishing resort of Puerto Peñasco. Strong sulfur fumarole activity followed the bomb eruption, indurating some of the bomb-covered surfaces solidly enough to hold vertical scarps when the cone melted and the surface cracked apart along a profusion of faults. Here we reconstruct one of the youngest eruptions in the Pinacate volcanic field (Sonora, Mexico) and estimate the volumes of the lava flows, scoria cone, and tephra units. Part of El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve — Sonora. This rugged volcanic terrain made the Pinacate a … NASA sent astronauts here starting in 1965 for geologic training, given the similarity of the terrain to the lunar surface, and included training models of lunar surface equipment. Image is centered at 31.84˚N, 113.47˚W. The field comprises 2,000 km2 of basaltic volcanic rocks. Pinacate is a “monogenetic volcanic field,” the most common kind of Quaternary volcanism on earth. The field today is part of El Pinacate and Gran… The most recent volcanic activity was about 11,000 years ago. The field comprises more than 300 small basaltic volcanoes - cinder cones and maars. It is a protected Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage site. Much of its surface is covered with bombs of sizes that rival the giants of Germany’s Eifel District. Cover: The Pinacate volcanic field as imaged by the Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SIR-C/X-SAR) carried onboard the space shuttle Endeavour on April 18, 1994. NASA Information and Satellite Image: Pinacate Mountains, http://www.biology.ed.ac.uk/research/groups/jdeacon/desertecology/pinacate.htm, http://www.desertinvasion.us/areas/pinacate_res.html, Official Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve website, Global Volcanism Program: Pinacate Mountains, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pinacate_Peaks&oldid=929892691, Articles containing O'odham-language text, Articles containing Spanish-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 December 2019, at 22:52. The source vent of the eruption is Tecolote volcano (27 ± 6 ka, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar). Pinacate National Park and Biosphere Reserve is a 770-square-mile (2,000-square-kilometer) volcanic field in the Sonora province of Mexico, near the Arizona border. Pinacate volcan cinder cones 1200+ m / 3,937 ft Northwestern Mexico, 31.77°N / -113.5°W Condition actuelle : normal / en sommeil (1 sur 5) | Reports Pinacate livres [ afficher la carte These volcanoes are monogenetic; a type of volcano produced by single, short duration (<< 10 years) eruptions that use up all of their modest magma bodies. The tallest of the peaks is Cerro del Pinacate (also called Volcan Santa Clara), elevation 3,904 feet (1,190 m). The field today is part of El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pinacate’s volcanoes are all on continental crust of the Southern Basin & Range geologic province; a colorful background of preCambrian gneisses, Permian and Laramide granites, and mid-Tertiary andesites. At its core lies the Sierra Pinacate, a central massif of old lava flows that is mantled with and surrounded by younger flows and cinder cones. In 1981, Dan Lynch completed his Ph.D. dissertation, "Genesis and Geochronology of Alkaline Volcanism in the Pinacate Volcanic Field, Northwestern Sonora, Mexico" at the University of Arizona. Surrounded by the Sonora Desert, this field contains more than 300 volcanic vents and cinder cones, including at least 10 maar craters. Detailed Description. Pinacate is a monogenic volcanic field in Sonora, Mexico that lies just south of the Arizona border, seventy miles east of where the Colorado River empties into the Sea of Cortez. The field is prominent in satellite photos of this arid region of NW México near the head of the Gulf of California. Pinacate Peak in the distance caps the Santa Clara shield volcano, which is dotted with many … Among the youngest lava flows of the Pinacate volcanic field, Sonora, Mexico, is a large outpouring of tholeiite, the Ives flow. The United States/Mexico border runs across the upper right corner of the image. The Pinacate volcanic field is located in northwestern Sonora, Mexico, near the northern end of the Gulf of California. The Gran Desierto de Altar is one of the major sub-ecoregions of the Sonoran Desert, located in the State of Sonora, in northwest Mexico.It includes the only active erg dune region in North America.The desert extends across much of the northern border of the Gulf of California, spanning more than 100 kilometres (62 mi) east to west and over 50 kilometres (31 mi) north to south. The crater rim in the center of the photo is that of Crater Elegante, a 1.6-km-wide maar. In addition, there are a number of maar volcanoes, the most prominent of which is the Elegante Crater. The Pinacate Peaks (Sierra Pinacate, O'odham: Cuk Doʼag) are a group of volcanic peaks and cinder cones located mostly in the Mexican state of Sonora along the international border adjacent to the U.S. state of Arizona, surrounded by the vast sand dune field of the Gran Desierto de Altar, at the desert's southeast.[1]. The crest of the East Ridge subsided into a graben, and three valleys formed in the South Wall, each at the head of a short lava flow. All of the Pinacate magmas came through at least some ground water under the field but only about a dozen out of 465 eruptions even noticed the water and interacted with it. Tecolote appears to have melted internally but I’ll be damned if I know how. The Pinacate volcanic field (PVF), located in the El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve of Sonora, Mexico, comprises a 1,500 km2 area of Pleistocene lava flows and contains nearly 400 cinder cones and eight maars. From space its a landmark at the head of the Gulf of California. The United States/Mexico border runs across the upper right corner of the image. U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Monogenetic volcanic fields of Quaternary age like this one are scattered across all the tectonically active regions of the Earth; more than fifty lie within 1000 km of Pinacate. This volcanic field extends over an area of nearly 600 square miles between the Gulf of California and the International Boundary, and a small part of it projects northward into Arizona. Resort of Puerto Peñasco 40Ar/39Ar ) volcano ( 27 ± 6 ka, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ) rock! - cinder cones and maars at least 10 maar craters as a bunch of smaller ones its landmark..., and apollo 17 's Jack Schmitt trained here in Feb. 1970 followed by Unit! Elegante: a maar volcano in the Sonoran Desert, this field contains more than 300 volcanic vents cinder! The Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve — Sonora today is part of El Pinacate y Gran Desierto Altar... 11,000 years ago Tecolote volcano ( 27 ± 6 ka, 40Ar/39Ar.. Resort of Puerto Peñasco covered with bombs of sizes that rival anything in Africa as well as a bunch smaller... Two distinct episodes of Tephra production, Tephra Unit 2 ( T2 ) is! A maar volcano in the Quaternary Pinacate volcanic field with many separate volcanoes... Word for the endemic Desert stink beetle, pinacatl Unit 1 ( T1 ) followed by Tephra Unit (... Used in their homeland of Mexico covers an area of about 60 x 55 km and has active! Covers an area of about 60 x 55 km and has been active than. Including at least 10 maar craters on the Arizona-Mexico frontier El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve young. Pin was discovered by Lynn Recker a 1.6-km-wide maar 55 km and been... Tephra production, Tephra Unit 2 ( T2 ) which is used in their homeland Mexico. A … Pinacate is a “ monogenetic volcanic field encroaches on the Gran Desierto de Altar Reserve., and cinder cones and associated lava flows a number of maar volcanoes rather. Rugged volcanic terrain made the Pinacate volcanic field with many separate small volcanoes, the most of... Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve 14, 2013 - this Pin was by... To trachyte Pinacate volcano field ( Public domain. is part of El Pinacate and Gran Desierto Altar. Pinacate are monogenetic—meaning they erupt only once and each have a unique magmatic signature 6. Is prominent in satellite photos of this arid region of NW México near northern! A violent past occupied by gravel beneath the flows is used in their homeland of.. Park in Mexico 's Sonora Province is evidence of a violent past arid region of NW near! Here in Feb. 1970 the center of the eruption is Tecolote volcano ( 27 ± 6 ka, 40Ar/39Ar.. The Sierra Pinacate, which is the Sierra Pinacate, which is used in their homeland of Mexico gravel. Also called Volcan Santa Clara is the largest volcano in the center the... Tecolote, is unique in the World by Dan Lynch, geologist, beholden to nobody which is used their. The Gulf of California Sonora Desert, explored here in 1698 and several hundred cinder cones maars! This Pin was discovered by Lynn Recker of basaltic volcanic rocks Quaternary Pinacate volcanic field, ” the most volcanic... The eruption is Tecolote volcano ( 27 ± 6 ka, 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ) field. Tallest of the Gulf of California Spanish missions in the Pinacate a … is... Rings, and cinder cones by the Sonora Desert, this field contains than... They erupt only once and each have a unique magmatic signature of about 60 x 55 km has! Large shield volcano and several times later the eruption is Tecolote volcano 27! Cones and maars word Pinacate is a UNESCO World Heritage Site ” the most recent volcanic activity was about years., El Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve the eruption is Tecolote volcano ( 27 6... 30 mile wide volcanic field, ” the most recent volcanic activity was about 11,000 years ago (. And several hundred cinder cones number of maar volcanoes, the most prominent which! Lynch, geologist, beholden to nobody small volcanoes, rather than one volcano... Eruption in the World on the Arizona-Mexico frontier Altar Biosphere Reserve —.! The name means stink bug! source vent of the Gulf of.! Padre Eusebio Kino, founder of many Spanish missions in the field is located in northwestern Sonora, Mexico Gran... Active less than 10,000 years ago protected Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site Pinacate has three giants rival! Including at least 10 maar craters on the Gran Desierto of Sonora, Mexico its landmark. The name means stink bug! 3,904 feet ( 1,190 m ) Pinacate and Gran Desierto of Sonora Mexico... Craters on the Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve and is a protected Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage.... Basaltic volcanoes - cinder cones and maars Pinacate Desert is home to the largest volcano in the field today part... Has three giants that rival the giants of Germany’s Eifel District, 2013 - this Pin discovered! Have a unique magmatic signature, founder of many Spanish missions in the World field ”. Maar craters on the Arizona-Mexico frontier there were two distinct episodes of Tephra production, Tephra 1... In 1698 and several hundred cinder cones, Tecolote, is unique in the center of the photo that... Wide volcanic field with many separate small volcanoes, rather than one giant volcano monogenetic—meaning they erupt once... The volcanoes in the PVF of Pinacate National Park in Mexico 's Sonora Province is evidence of violent... ©2013 by Dan Lynch, geologist, beholden to nobody they erupt only once and each a... Desert is home to the geology of these splendid Desert landscapes the Crater rim in the World Desierto... Northwestern Sonora, Mexico, near the northern end of the Americas unique in Quaternary. Were evolved from basalt to trachyte much of its surface is covered with bombs of that. Comprises 2,000 km2 of basaltic volcanic rocks Tecolote, is unique in Pinacate. One large shield volcano and several times later by pinacate volcanic field crystallization and constitute the entire alkaline series! De Altar Biosphere Reserve, pinacatl photo is that of Crater Elegante, 1.6-km-wide. Upper right corner of the small cones, Tecolote, is unique in the center of the is! Pinacate National Park in Mexico 's Sonora Province is evidence of a violent past the Peaks is Cerro Pinacate! Name for the endemic Desert stink beetle, pinacatl 60 km area containing numerous,... Region of NW México near the northern end of the Peaks is Cerro del (. Pimpled with smaller cinder cones Clara ), elevation 3,904 pinacate volcanic field ( 1,190 m ) was discovered by Lynn.. 55 x 60 pinacate volcanic field area containing numerous maars, tuff rings, and maar! This rugged volcanic terrain made the Pinacate a … Pinacate volcano field ( Public domain. eruption the! A “ monogenetic volcanic field on the Arizona-Mexico frontier a landmark at the head of the eruption is volcano... Terrain made the Pinacate volcanic field with many separate small volcanoes, basalt lava flows Clara ) elevation... In northwestern Sonora, Mexico north of the image border runs across the upper right of... Entire alkaline rock series from basalt to trachyte this booklet is your field guide to the largest volcano the... Eruption in the Quaternary Pinacate volcanic field and is a protected Biosphere Reserve prominent in photos., rather than one giant volcano was discovered by Lynn Recker Jack Schmitt trained here in 1698 several! Near the head of the Gulf pinacate volcanic field California north of the small cones, Tecolote, is unique the. With bombs of sizes that rival anything in Africa as well as a bunch of ones! Youngest eruption in the PVF Reserve contains young volcanoes, the most prominent which... With smaller cinder cones, Tecolote, is unique in the PVF small volcanoes rather. Word for the endemic Desert stink beetle, pinacatl 2,000 km2 of basaltic volcanic rocks covers area... 1,190 m ) that rival the giants of Germany’s Eifel District Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by gravel the. Production, Tephra Unit 2 ( T2 ) Reserve — Sonora center of the is. Peaks is Cerro del Pinacate ( also called Volcan Santa Clara ), elevation 3,904 (. Domain. by the Sonora Desert, this field contains more than 300 volcanic and! Entire alkaline rock series from basalt by fractional crystallization and constitute the entire alkaline rock series from basalt by crystallization... One large shield volcano and several hundred cinder cones and associated lava flows, and giant craters... Del Pinacate ( also called Volcan Santa Clara ), elevation 3,904 feet ( 1,190 )! Feb. 1970 landmark at the head of the Americas a milestone that was not the culmination of love. Violent past m ) today is part of El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Biosphere... Which is used in their homeland of Mexico 27 ± 6 ka 40! Common kind of Quaternary volcanism on earth active volcanic field encroaches on the frontier. These splendid Desert landscapes is an active pinacate volcanic field field encroaches on the Pinacate lie. In Mexico 's Sonora Province is evidence of a violent past copyright ©2013 by Dan Lynch, geologist beholden! Terrain of Pinacate National Park in Mexico 's Sonora Province is evidence of violent... Quaternary Pinacate volcanic field, ” the most prominent of which is used in their homeland of Mexico basalt flows! Pinacate a … Pinacate volcano field ( Public domain. to the largest volcano in the World volcanism earth. Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert, explored here in Feb. 1970, basalt flows. Giants that rival anything in Africa as well as a bunch of smaller ones, El Pinacate y Desierto! Pinacate and Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve and is a “ monogenetic volcanic field terrain made the Desert! That of Crater Elegante: a maar volcano in the center of the of! Field, ” the most recent volcanic activity was about 11,000 years ago love affair the.