Geologic History and Formation of Crater Lake, USGS, 2002

The following diagrams show the formation of Crater Lake during the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama. Diagrams are by Charles Bacon, acquired from the 1988 edition of the 1:62,500 scale topographic map entitled “Crater Lake National Park and Vicinity, Oregon.”

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Figure A: Plinian eruption deposits airfall pumice and ash, blown by winds to north and east.

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Figure B: Vent enlarges and eruption column collapses; pyroclastic flows deposit the Wineglass Welded Tuff on north and east flanks.

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Figure C: Roof of magma chamber collapses, forming caldera as new vents open above fractures; pyroclastic flows deposit pumice and ash on all flanks of Mount Mazama and in valleys below.

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Figure D: Caldera has been partly filled with pumice and ash from the eruption shown in C and with blocks of rock from the caldera walls; weak, dying explosions within the caldera deposit ash on the caldera rim; pyroclastic-flow deposits develop fumaroles and gradually cool.

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Figure E: Crater Lake today.