The Yellowstone Hotspot origins: volcanism, deep mantle plume vs. upper-mantle anomaly.

Roark Franklund

The Yellowstone hotspot, located in the northwest corner of Wyoming, is a volcanically active region. Numerous hot springs and geysers are evidence of geothermal activity. Origins of the hotspot are unknown. There are two main hypotheses: 1) A deep mantle plume is the source, similar to island forming hotspots on ocean plates, but located on a continental plate. 2) Volcanism is of an upper-mantle origin. Arguments and interpretation of evidences exist that support each hypothesis.

Figure 1. Location of hotspot movement. GSA Bulletin; March 2002; v. 114; no. 3; p.368

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