New USGS Geologic Map of Mount Mazama and Crater Lake Caldera, Oregon
Crater Lake Institute News
Crater Lake, Oregon
November 24, 2008
By Rob Mutch
A spectacular new map, years in the making, is now available from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Hazards Team of Menlo Park, CA: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2832/
Dr. Charles Bacon, a USGS geologist who has conducted research at Crater Lake National Park for decades, has worked many years on the map project.
 |
 |
|
New USGS map showing Crater Lake |
We asked Dr. Bacon about the new map:
Robert Mutch (Crater Lake Institute): Charlie, how long have you been working on this map project?
Dr. Bacon: This project was started in 1979. Most of the fieldwork was done 1979-1988, with some additions through 1995. The Publication was caught up in the digital revolution. Putting everything into digital form, writing all of the geologic map unit descriptions, adding the caldera floor geology, and USGS internal technical review was completed in 2002. I had been working on a number of papers throughout the time I was working on the map. Waiting in line in the publications group for map edits and final production consumed the years leading up to publication.”
Robert Mutch (Crater Lake Institute): How influential was the work of previous geologists such as Howell Williams, Clarence Dutton, and Diller and Patton?
Dr. Bacon: “Howel Williams’ monograph, of course, was a guide to every subsequent worker at Crater Lake. In my own work, although I looked at Williams’ book, I made my own observations and came to my own conclusions. The Diller and Patton Professional Paper is a marvelous book and was a tremendous accomplishment for the time. It is of historical interest, and many of the things in it have held up. I never really looked into what Dutton did. As I said earlier, I knew Howel Williams. He was a charming and dynamic individual. Unfortunately, I had very little opportunity to talk with Willie after I had started fieldwork, but I did get in a conversation or two. He was very encouraging. Recall that he died in early 1980, shortly before Mount St. Helens awoke.”
Crater Lake National Park encompasses most of the area of the geologic map. Knowledge of the geology and eruptive history of the Mount Mazama edifice, greatly enhanced by the caldera wall exposures, gives exceptional insight into how large volcanoes of magmatic arcs grow and evolve.
The new 1:24,000 scale geologic map is unusual because it portrays bedrock (outcrop), surficial, and lake floor geology. Caldera wall geology is depicted in detail on the accompanying geologic panoramas. Also included is a 1:50,000 scale bedrock geologic map and a 45 page pamphlet.
The new map may be obtained as downloadable files at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/2832/ and will be available in printed form with CD-ROM as SIM Map 2832.
The map consists of several downloadable files: four large map sheets in PDF format, a 49-page pamphlet for the maps, a ArcInfo database consisting of files and containing a map and topographic base data in a single zipped folder. In addition, there is a collection of photographs of the area covered.
New USGS map showing Crater Lake
Other pages in this section
- Beetle Outbreak Threatens Park Trees: Researchers Say Global Warming to Blame – Summer/Fall 2008
- Ranger-Guided Snowshoe Walks – November 27, 2008
- Crater Lake snow total back to average level – November 5, 2008
- Crater Lake seeks volunteers – November 3, 2008
- Rim Drive at Crater Lake closes for season – November 3, 2008
- Hands and Hoofs: Horse Group helps Crater Lake Ski Patrol mark winter trails – September 18, 2008
- Ski patrol volunteers needed at Crater Lake Park – October 10, 2008
- Parts of wilderness area, Crater Lake park reopen: Cooler weather, rain help firefighters control Middle Fork Fire – October 9, 2008
- Crater Lake facilities closing down: Crater Lake Lodge to close Sunday for the season – October 7, 2008
- Meeting set on Middle Fork Fire – September 23, 2008
- Middle Fork wildfire hits 17,869 then slows down – September 23, 2008
- Weather helps Royce Butte Fire – September 20, 2008
- Fire burns into Crater Lake: Growing Middle Fork fire spreads into remote portion of the park – September 20, 2008
- William “Bill” Hopkins – September 19, 2008
- Middle Fork blaze heads toward Crater Lake – September 19, 2008
- Rattle Fire keeps highway 138 closed for weekend – September 12, 2008
- Hiking trails closed down by wildfire – September 11, 2008
- Family fun day planned at Crater Lake – September 11, 2008
- King of Jordan, ‘Lost’ actor among celebrities at Crater Lake – September 3, 2008
- Remembering Emil, the forgotten Britt: his life was spent in the shadow of his father’s fame – August 24, 2008
- Meissner, Shelton take Crater Lake run – August 10, 2008
- The road to Crater Lake – July 27, 2008
- Crater Lake swimming chilly – July 16, 2008
- Exploring the “Other Half” of Our National Parks: Stargazing Under Protected Dark Skies – June 14, 2008
- Wildfire filling sky with smoke: Fire near Crater Lake is 1,700 acres – September 10, 2008
- Crater Lake: Taking the Plunge – September 4, 2008
- Garfield Peak trail guide – August 28, 2008
- Garfield Peak offers new vantage point to Crater Lake – August 28, 2008
- Crater Lake National Park: Trees, wildflowers, dazzling views on trail to Crater Peak – August 14, 2008
- Plenty of backcountry solitude – August 14, 2008
- Crater Lake boat tours to resume – August 13, 2008
- Crater Lake needs volunteers – August 11, 2008
- Locals Impress: Area runners win 2 short runs – August 10, 2008
- Meissner, Shelton win Crater Lake marathons – August 10, 2008
- Mazama Village to be back to normal – July 23, 2008
- Fire Contained at Crater Lake – July 22, 2008
- 50 spots remain for Crater Lake Rim Runs – July 20, 2008
- Crater Lake; Rim Drive opens today – July 11, 2008
- Crater Lake Rim Run spots going – June 24, 2008
- Crater Lake north entrance opened, but caution urged – June 21, 2008
- Many Crater Lake services open, despite snow – June 10, 2008
- A Tribute to Steve Robinson – Spring, 2008
- Crater Lake’s new boss fulfills a lifelong dream – May 04, 2008
- A Look back at history: Programs focus on history of Southern Oregon – April 25, 2008
- Crater lake has new superintendent: Craig Ackerman will move from the Oregon Caves National Monument – March 5, 2008
- Oregon law could nix proposed water agreement – March 5, 2008
- Crater Lake contaminated, new study suggests – February 28, 2008
- Airborne Contaminants Found in Western U.S. and Alaskan National Parks – February 28, 2008
- Airborne Contaminants Study Released Measurable Levels Detected in Twenty Western National Parks – February 26, 2008
- What to do: Crater Lake rangers guide free hikes – February 23, 2008
- Crater Lake story will air – February 9, 2008
- Park rangers undaunted by weather – February 8, 2008
- TV crew makes trek to Crater Lake’s rim – February 8, 2008
- ODOT worker hurt when tree crushes pickup truck – February 4, 2008
- TV crew headed to Crater Lake – February 6, 2008
- Park Ranger Ken Hay Retires – January 28, 2008
- Crater Lake offers 90-minute winter tours: Park rangers lead free treks in park on Saturdays – January 24, 2008
- Laurels go to retired Crater Lake official: Dinner given for former park superintendent Chuck Lundy – January 21, 2008
