Newberry Volcanic National Monument
Oregon
Obsidian Flow

The youngest feature on Newberry Volcano is the Big Obsidian Flow (1,300 years old, about 650 A.D.) which also makes it the youngest dated volcanic feature in central Oregon.  Of the total Big Obsidian eruption volume 45% was erupted into the air to form pumice, while 55% was erupted as a lava flow.

The volume of rock in the Big Obsidian Lava Flow is 170,000,000 cubic yards. Assuming a paved road 24 feet wide and 6 inches thick, there is enough rock in the flow to pave 70,000 miles of road which is equivalent to a paved road circling the world three times.  The volume of airfall pumice erupted from the Big Obsidian vent is at least 416,000,000 cubic yards. Assuming a 10 cubic yard dump truck arriving every minute it would take 80 years for the trucks to haul all the pumice that the volcano was able to erupt in a few days at most. 

Astronaut R. Walter Cunningham tested the mobility of a moon-suit on the Big Obsidian Flow on August 27, 1964.  In the mid-60's, NASA tested the chemistry of rocks form the Big Obsidian Flow from 70 sites. The chemistry at all sites was identical.

Every August the Obsidian Flow is crawls with thousands of frogs. At times, it's hard to walk without stepping on one. They may migrate UP the flow, from Lost Lake. Really strange, like the flight of the Lemmings.

Surgical blades made from obsidian are sharper than those of steel.

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Copyright © 1995 - 2007 Steve Schmorleitz. All rights reserved.
Revised: June 24, 2008.
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