GEOL 102 - Geography

Yellowstone, USA

A. Supervolcano (Caldera) B. Hotspot C. Rhyolitic lava (high silica content) D. Felsic E. Extremely explosive due to high gas content and viscous magma. F. Caldera (large, basin-shaped depression).

Crater Lake, USA

A. Caldera (formerly a stratovolcano) B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Juan de Fuca Plate under North American Plate) C. Andesitic to rhyolitic lava D. Intermediate to felsic E. Explosive; formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama after a major eruption. F. Caldera with a central lake.

Mt St Helens, USA

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Juan de Fuca Plate under North American Plate) C. Andesitic lava D. Intermediate E. Highly explosive due to viscous magma and high gas content. F. Steep-sided stratovolcano.

Mt Cleveland, Alaska

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Pacific Plate under North American Plate) C. Andesitic lava D. Intermediate E. Highly explosive, common in Aleutian arc volcanoes. F. Cone-shaped stratovolcano.

Mt Fuji, Japan

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Pacific Plate under Eurasian Plate) C. Andesitic lava D. Intermediate E. Explosive; periodic eruptions characterized by pyroclastic flows. F. Symmetrical stratovolcano.

Mauna Loa, Hawai’i

A. Shield volcano B. Hotspot C. Basaltic lava (low silica content, very fluid) D. Mafic E. Effusive eruptions due to fluid lava and low gas content. F. Broad, gently sloping shield volcano.

Mauna Kea, Hawai’i

A. Shield volcano B. Hotspot C. Basaltic lava D. Mafic E. Effusive eruptions, though less frequent than Mauna Loa. F. Broad, gently sloping shield volcano.

Cinder Cone, Mauna Kea, Hawai’i

A. Cinder cone B. Hotspot C. Basaltic lava D. Mafic E. Mildly explosive due to gas content creating pyroclastic material. F. Steep-sided cinder cone.

Mt Vesuvius, Italy

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, African Plate under Eurasian Plate) C. Andesitic to rhyolitic lava D. Intermediate to felsic E. Highly explosive; famous for catastrophic Plinian eruptions. F. Steep-sided stratovolcano.

Cotapaxi, Equador

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Nazca Plate under South American Plate) C. Andesitic lava D. Intermediate E. Highly explosive; frequent eruptions with pyroclastic flows. F. Cone-shaped stratovolcano.

Grímsvötn, Iceland

A. Subglacial volcano B. Divergent plate boundary (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Eurasian Plate and North American Plate) C. Basaltic lava D. Mafic E. Explosive due to interaction of magma with glacial ice. F. Subglacial volcano with fissures and calderas.

Taupo, New Zealand

A. Supervolcano (Caldera) B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Pacific Plate under Indo-Australian Plate) C. Rhyolitic lava D. Felsic E. Extremely explosive; responsible for some of the largest eruptions in history. F. Large caldera.

Mt Pinatubo, Philippines

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Eurasian Plate under Philippine Sea Plate) C. Andesitic to dacitic lava D. Intermediate to felsic E. Highly explosive; 1991 eruption was catastrophic. F. Steep-sided stratovolcano.

Mt Meager, BC

A. Stratovolcano B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Juan de Fuca Plate under North American Plate) C. Andesitic lava D. Intermediate E. Explosive due to viscous magma and volatile content. F. Stratovolcano with rugged features.

Mt Edziza, BC

A. Stratovolcano and volcanic plateau B. Hotspot or rift zone activity C. Basaltic to andesitic lava D. Mafic to intermediate E. Effusive to moderately explosive depending on eruption type. F. Broad volcanic plateau with cinder cones and domes.

Cinder Cone on Mt Edziza, BC

A. Cinder cone B. Hotspot or rift zone activity C. Basaltic lava D. Mafic E. Mildly explosive; produces pyroclastic material. F. Steep-sided cinder cone.

Krakatoa, Indonesia

A. Caldera (formerly a stratovolcano) B. Convergent plate boundary (subduction zone, Indo-Australian Plate under Eurasian Plate) C. Andesitic to rhyolitic lava D. Intermediate to felsic E. Extremely explosive; 1883 eruption was catastrophic. F. Caldera formed after collapse of original volcano.

East Africa Rift Valley

A. Divergent boundary (continental rift, spreading apart) B. Shallow earthquakes of small to medium magnitude. C. Crust is generated as the rift expands. D. Yes, volcanic activity is present. Volcanoes would likely be basaltic (mafic) shield volcanoes or cinder cones.

San Andreas Fault, USA

A. Transform boundary B. Shallow earthquakes of small to large magnitude. C. Conservative boundary (neither crust created nor destroyed). D. No volcanic activity is expected at this boundary.

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

A. Divergent boundary (oceanic spreading center) B. Shallow earthquakes of small to medium magnitude. C. Crust is generated as new oceanic lithosphere forms. D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are basaltic (mafic) and typically form shield volcanoes or fissure eruptions.

Juan de Fuca Plate / North American Plate

A. Convergent boundary (subduction zone) B. Earthquakes range from shallow to deep and medium to large magnitude. C. Crust is destroyed as the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate. D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are andesitic to rhyolitic (intermediate to felsic) and usually stratovolcanoes.

Nazca Plate / South American Plate

A. Convergent boundary (subduction zone) B. Earthquakes range from shallow to deep and medium to large magnitude. C. Crust is destroyed as the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate. D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are andesitic to rhyolitic (intermediate to felsic) and typically stratovolcanoes.

Mariana Trench

A. Convergent boundary (ocean-ocean subduction zone) B. Earthquakes range from shallow to deep and medium to large magnitude. C. Crust is destroyed as one oceanic plate subducts beneath another. D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are basaltic to andesitic (mafic to intermediate) and often form volcanic island arcs, with composite shapes.

Himalayas, Nepal

A. Convergent boundary (continental-continental collision) B. Shallow to moderate-depth earthquakes of medium to large magnitude. C. Crust is neither created nor destroyed but thickened as the plates collide. D. No volcanic activity is typically associated with this boundary.

Pacific Plate / Eurasian Plate

A. Convergent boundary (subduction zone) B. Earthquakes range from shallow to deep and medium to large magnitude. C. Crust is destroyed as the oceanic plate subducts beneath the continental plate. D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are andesitic to rhyolitic (intermediate to felsic) and typically stratovolcanoes.

North American Plate / Eurasian Plate

A. Divergent boundary (Mid-Atlantic Ridge). B. Shallow earthquakes of small to medium magnitude. C. Crust is generated as the plates move apart, forming new oceanic lithosphere.
D. Yes, volcanic activity occurs. Volcanoes are basaltic (mafic) and typically shield volcanoes or fissure eruptions.

Greenland Ice Sheet

Continental Glacier

Antarctic Ice Sheet

Continental Glacier

Ice Shelf, Antarctica

Ice Shelf

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

Mountain Glacier

Athabasca Glacier, AB, Canada

Valley Glacier

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

A natural rock formation consisting of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by volcanic activity around 60 million years ago

Hydrothermal geysers and springs, Yellowstone, USA

home to more than half of the world’s geysers, caused by heat from the Earth’s interior heating groundwater

Frank Slide, Alberta

landslide that occurred in 1903 when a large portion of Turtle Mountain collapsed, burying the town of Frank under millions of tons of rock and debris

Hope Slide, BC

massive landslide that occurred in 1965 in British Columbia, caused by a combination of heavy rainfall and geological instability, resulting in significant destruction

Amazon River, Brazil

world’s largest river by discharge, shaping the surrounding landscape through sediment deposition and playing a crucial role in the region’s ecosystem

Mississippi River, USA

One of the longest rivers in North America, flowing through central United States, and playing a key role in shaping the region’s geology and economy through sediment deposition and erosion

St Lawrence River, Canada

A major river in eastern Canada, forming the outlet of the Great Lakes and serving as a key waterway for trade and transport, while also influencing the regional landscape and ecosystems

Fraser River, BC

A major river in British Columbia, flowing into the Pacific Ocean, known for its role in shaping the landscape through erosion, sediment transport, and supporting diverse wildlife

Glacial Lake Regina clay deposits, SK

The clay deposits formed from sedimentation of Glacial Lake Regina, which existed during the last Ice Age, contributing to the region’s current landscape and soil composition