NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Lava Beds National Monument, California

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Geodiversity refers to the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in the park. A product of the Geologic Resources Inventory, the NPS Geodiversity Atlas delivers information in support of education, Geoconservation, and integrated management of living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of the ecosystem.

In-depth geologic information is contained in the baseline inventory products of the Geologic Resources Inventory, see table below.

Introduction

Lava Beds National Monument (LABE) is located in the Cascades Range about 16 km (10 mi) south of the California–Oregon border in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, northeastern California. Established on November 21, 1925, LABE was initially administered by the U.S. Forest Service before it transferred to the NPS on August 10, 1933 (Anderson 2017). The monument encompasses approximately 18,896 hectares (46,692 acres) of rugged, volcanic landscape situated on the northern flank of Medicine Lake volcano. Medicine Lake volcano is the largest volcano by volume in the Cascades Range at 600 km3 (150 mi3 ) and is the primary volcanic source for the monument’s namesake lava beds (KellerLynn 2014b). To date, there are 208 recorded volcanic events associated with the volcano’s 500,000-year history, 36 of which are preserved in LABE (Donnelly-Nolan 2010).

Geologic Setting

The geology of Lava Beds National Monument is dominated by hundreds of well-preserved lava features that range in composition from rhyolite to basalt. The monument is decorated by a diverse array of volcanic features that include vents, craters, cinder cones, spatter cones, lava flows, and lava tubes. Thirty-six eruption events associated with Medicine Lake volcano are situated within the monument, the oldest of which is the Pleistocene basalt of Hovey Point (445,000 ± 25,000 years old) (KellerLynn 2014b). The youngest volcanic unit in LABE is the Holocene basaltic andesite of Callahan Flow (1,120 years old) (KellerLynn 2014b). In addition to the monument’s diverse volcanic deposits, LABE contains lake deposits, glacial outwash deposits, paleontological resources, and cultural resources. Petroglyph Point is an American Indian rock art site with more than 5,000 individual rock carvings dating back to the early Holocene (11,700 years) (KellerLynn 2014b).

Regional Geology

Lava Beds National Monument is a part of the Cascade-Sierra Mountains Physiographic Province and shares its geologic history and some characteristic geologic formations with a region that extends well beyond park boundaries.

Maps and Reports

Geologic Resources Inventory

The Geologic Resources Inventory produces digital geologic maps and reports for more than 270 natural resource parks. The products listed below are currently available for this park, check back often for updates as many maps, reports, and posters are still in progress.

Scoping summaries are records of scoping meetings where NPS staff and local geologists determined the park’s geologic mapping plan and what content should be included in the report.

• Digital geologic maps include files for viewing in GIS software, a guide to using the data, and a document with ancillary map information. Newer products also include data viewable in Google Earth and online map services.
• Reports use the maps to discuss the park’s setting and significance, notable geologic features and processes, geologic resource management issues, and geologic history.
• Posters are a static view of the GIS data in PDF format. Newer posters include aerial imagery or shaded relief and other park information. They are also included with the reports.
• Projects list basic information about the program and all products available for a park.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3003. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Soil Resources inventory

A NPS Soil Resources Inventory project has been completed for Lava Beds National Monument and can be found on the NPS Data Store.

Source: NPS DataStore Saved Search 3050. To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.

Blue Grotto lava tube.

Related Links

Lava Beds—Caves

Lava Beds—Geology Brochure [PDF]

Lava Beds—Photo Gallery

Lava Beds—Park Home

NPS—Caves and Karst

NPS—Volcanoes, Craters & Lava Flows

NPS—Geologic Time

NPS—Explore Regional Geology

NPS—Geology

California Geological Survey

Lava Beds National Monument

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National Park Service Geodiversity Atlas

The servicewide Geodiversity Atlas provides information on geoheritage and geodiversity resources and values within the National Park System. This information supports science-based geoconservation and interpretation in the NPS, as well as STEM education in schools, museums, and field camps. The NPS Geologic Resources Division and many parks work with National and International geoconservation communities to ensure that NPS abiotic resources are managed using the highest standards and best practices available.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas

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