Skip to main content
Log in

Age and progression of volcanism, Wrangell volcanic field, Alaska

  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Wrangell volcanic field covers more than 10 000 km2 in southern Alaska and extends uninterrupted into northwest. Yukon Territory. Lavas in the field exhibit medium-K, calc-alkaline affinities, typical of continental volcanic arcs along convergent plate margins. Eleven major eruptive centers are recognized in the Alaskan part of the field. More than 90 K-Ar age determinations in the field show a northwesterly progression of eruptive activity from 26 Ma, near the Alaska-Yukon border, to about 0.2 Ma at the northwest end of the field. A few age determinations in the southeast extension of the field in Yukon Territory, Canada, range from 11 to 25 Ma. The ages indicate that the progression of volcanism in the Alaska part of the field increased from about 0.8 km/Ma, at 25 Ma, to more than 20 km/MA during the past 2 Ma. The progression of volcanic activity and its increased rate of migration with time is attributed to changes in the rate and angle of Pacific plate convergence and the progressive decoupling of the Yakutat terrane from North America. Subduction of Yakutat terrane-Pacific plate and Wrangell volcanic activity ceased about 200 000 years age when Pacific plate motion was taken up by strike-slip faulting and thrusting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Benson CS, Motyka RJ (1979) Glacier-volcano interactions on Mt Wrangell, Alaska. In: 1977–78 Annual Report of the Geophysical Institute. Univ of Alaska Fairbanks, pp 1–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Brew DA (1988) Latest Mesozoic and Cenozoic igneous rocks of southeastern Alaska — A synopsis. US Geol Surv Open-File Rpt 88–405:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruns TR (1979) Late Cenozoic structure of the continental margin, northern Gulf of Alaska. In: Sisson A (ed) The relationship of plate tectonics to Alaskan geology and resources. Proc 6th Alaska Geol Soc Symposium, Anchorage:I1–I27

  • Bruns TR (1983) Model for the origin of the Yakutat block, an accreting terrance in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Geology 11:718–721

    Google Scholar 

  • Capps SR (1915) An ancient volcanic eruption in the upper Yukon basin. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 95-D:59–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Connor, CL (1984) Late Quaternary glaciolacustrine and vegetational history of the Copper River basin, southcentral Alaska. Ph D dissertation, Univ of Montana, Missoula

  • Dalrymple GB, Lanphere MA (1969) Potassium-argon dating. WH Freeman, San Francisco, CA, 258 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple GB, Lanphere MA (1971)40Ar/39Ar technique of K-Ar dating: A comparison with the conventional technique. Earth Planet Sci Lett 12:300–308

    Google Scholar 

  • Deininger JW (1972) Petrology of the Wrangell volcanics near Nabesna, Alaska. MS thesis, Univ of Alaska, Fairbanks

  • Denton GH, Armstrong RL (1969) Miocene-Pliocene glaciations in southern Alaska. Am J Sci 267:1121–1142

    Google Scholar 

  • Dodds CJ, Campbell RB (1988) Potassium-argon ages of mainly intrusive rocks in the Saint Elias Mountains, Yukon and British Columbia. Geol Surv Canada Pap 87:1–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Engebretson DC, Cox A, Gordon RG (1985) Relative motions betwen oceanic and continental plates in the Pacific basin. Geol Soc Am Spec Pap 206:1–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine TN, Baragar WRA (1971) A guide to the chemical classification of the common volcanic rocks. Canad J Earth Sci 8:523–548

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahr JC, Plafker G (1980) Holocene Pacific-North American plate interaction in southern Alaska: Implications for the Yakataga seismic gap. Geology 8:483–486

    Google Scholar 

  • LeBas MJ, LeMaitre RW, Streckeisen A, Zanettin B (1986) A chemical classification of volcanic rocks based on the total alkali-silica diagram. J Petrology 27:745–750

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerbekmo JF, Campbell FA (1969) Distribution, composition, and source of the White River ash, Yukon Territory. Canad J Earth Sci 6:109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerbekmo JF, Hanson LW, Campbell FA (1968) Application of particle size distribution to determination of source of a volcanic ash deposit. 23rd International Geol Cong, Prague 1968, Proc 2:283–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerbekmo JF, Westgate JA, Smith DGW, Denton GH (1975) New data on the character and history of the White River volcanic eruption, Alaska. In: Suggate RP, Cresswell MM (eds) Quaternary studies. R Soc New Zealand, Wellington, pp 203–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe PC, Richter DH, Smith RL, Schmoll HR (1982) Geologic map of the Nabesna B-5 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1566 (1: 63 360)

  • MacKevett EM Jr (1978) Geology of the McCarthy B-4 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Bull 1333:1–31

    Google Scholar 

  • MacKevett EM Jr (1970) Geologic map of the McCarthy quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Misc Investigations Series Map I-1032 (1: 250 000)

  • Mankinen EA, Dalrymple GB (1972) Electron microprobe evaluation of terrestrial basalts for whole-rock K-Ar dating. Earth Planet Sci Lett 17:89–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Nye CJ (1983) Petrology and geochemistry of Okmok and Wrangell volcanoes, Alaska. Ph D dissertation, Univ of California, Santa Cruz

  • Ovenshine AT, Brew DA (1972) Separation and history of the Chatham Strait fault, southeast Alaska North America. 24th International Geol Cong, Montreal, Proc 3:245–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Page RA, Stephens CD, Lahr JC (1990) Seismicity of the Wrangell and Aleutian Wadati-Benioff zones and the North American plate along the Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect, Chugach Mountains and Copper River Basin, southern Alaska. J Geophysical Res (in press)

  • Plafker G (1969) Tectonics of the March 27, 1964, Alaska earthquake. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 543-I, 74 p

  • Plafker G (1983) The Yakutat block — An actively accreting tectonostratigraphic terrane in southern Alaska. Geol Soc Am Abstr with Programs 15, 5:406

    Google Scholar 

  • Plafker G (1987) Regional geology and petroleum potential of the northern Gulf of Alaska continental margin. Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources, Houston, Texas. Earth Sci Series 6:229–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Plafker G, Hudson T, Bruns TR, Rubin M (1978) Late Quaternary offsets along the Fairweather fault and crustal plate interactions in southern Alaska. Canad J Earth Sci 15:805–816

    Google Scholar 

  • Plafker G, Nokleberg WJ, Lull JS (1989) Bedrock geology and tectonic evolution of the Wrangellia, Peninsular, and Chugach terranes along the Trans-Alaska Crustal Transect in the Chugach Mountains and southern Copper River Basin, Alaska. J Geophys Res 94:4255–4295

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter DH (1976) Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Misc Investigations Series Map I-932 (1: 250 000)

  • Richter DH, Matson NA Jr (1971) Quaternary faulting in the eastern Alaska Range, Alaska. Geol Soc Am Bull 82:1529–1540

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter DH, Schmoll HR (1973) Geologic map of the Nabesna C-5 quadrangle, Alaska, US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1062 (1: 63 360)

  • Richter DH, Smith RL (1976) Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1292, (1: 63 600)

  • Richter DH, Smith RL, Yehle LA, Miller TP (1979) Geologic map of the Gulkana A-2 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1520 (1: 63 360)

  • Richter DH, Smith JG, Ratte' JC, Leeman WP (1984) Shield volcanoes in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska. In: Reed KM, Bartsch-Winkler S (eds) The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1982. US Geol Surv Circ 939:71–75

  • Richter DH, Ratte' JC, Schmoll HR, Leeman WP, Smith JG, Yehle LA (1989) Geologic map of the Gulkana B-1 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1655 (1: 63 360)

  • Richter DH, Smith JG, Schmoll HR, Smith RL (in press) Geologic map of the Nabesna B-6 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1688 (1: 63 360)

  • Silberman ML, Potter RW, Nissenbaum A (1976) Stable isotope, sulfide mineralogy, fluid inclusion, and K-Ar age study of the massive sulfide deposits at Kennecott. In: Cobb E (ed) The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1975. US Geol Surv Circ 733:51–52

  • Silberman ML, Mathews A, Potter RW, Nissenbaum A (1977) Stable isotope geochemistry, sulfide mineralogy, and potassiumargon ages of the Kennecott massive sulfide deposits, Alaska. In: Blean KM (ed) The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: accomplishments during 1976. US Geol Surv Circ 751-B: B56-B58

  • Skulski T, Francis D (1986) On the geology of the Tertiary Wrangell lavas in the St Clare Province, St Elias Mountains, Yukon. Yukon Geol 1:161–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Skulski T, Francis D, Ludden J (1988) Magma evolution along an obliquely convergent continental margin. EOS Trans Am Geophys Union 69:1476

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger RH, Jager E (1977) Subcommission of Geochronology-convention on the use of decay constants in geo- and cosmochronology. Earth Planet Sci Lett 36:359–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephens CD, Fogleman KA, Lahr JC, Page RA (1984) Wrangell Benioff zone, southern Alaska. Geology 12:373–376

    Google Scholar 

  • von Huene R, Fisher MA, Bruns TR (1979) Continental margin of the Gulf of Alaska and late Cenozoic tectonic plate boundaries. In: Sisson A (ed) The relationship of plate tectonics to Alaskan geology and resources. Proc 6th Alaska Geol Soc Symp, Anchorage J1–J33

  • Winkler GR, MacKevett EM Jr (1981) Geologic map of the McCarthy C-7 quadrangle, Alaska. US Geol Surv Geol Quad Map GQ-1533 (1: 63 360)

  • Winkler GR, Silberman ML, Grantz A, Miller RJ, MacKevett EM Jr (1981) Geologic map and summary geochronology of the Valdez quadrangle, southern Alaska. US Geol Surv Open-file Rept 80-892-A (1: 250 000)

  • Yehle LA, Nichols DR (1980) Reconaissance map and description of the Chetaslina volcanic debris flow (new name), southeastern Copper River basin and adjacent areas, south-central Alaska. US Geol Surv Misc Field Studies Map MF-1209 (1: 250 000)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Richter, D.H., Smith, J.G., Lanphere, M.A. et al. Age and progression of volcanism, Wrangell volcanic field, Alaska. Bull Volcanol 53, 29–44 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00680318

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00680318

Keywords

Navigation