No latest activity reported for Diamond Craters.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Benedict E, 2000. Diamond Craters, Oregon's geologic gem. {U S Bur Land Management} brochure BLM/OR/WA/GI-00/027-1122.32

Chitwood L A, 1994. Inflated basaltic lava--examples of processes and landforms from central and southeast Oregon. {Oregon Geol}, 56: 11-21

Friedman I, Peterson N, 1971. Obsidian hydration dating applied to dating of basaltic volcanic activity. {Science}, 172: 1028

Green J, Short N M, 1971. {Volcanic Landforms and Surface Features: a Photographic Atlas and Glossary}. New York: Springer-Verlag, 519 p

Russell J K, Nicholls J, 1987. Early crystallization history of alkali olivine basalts, Diamond Craters, Oregon. {Geochim Cosmochim Acta}, 51: 143-154

Sarna-Wojcicki A M, Champion D E, Davis J O, 1983. Holocene volcanism in the conterminous United States and the role of silicic volcanic ash layers in correlation of latest Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. {In}: Wright H E (ed) {Late-Quaternary Environments of the United States}, Minneapolis: Univ Minnesota Press, 2: 52-77

Sherrod D R, 2011. . (pers. comm.)

Smith R L, Shaw H R, 1975. Igneous-related geothermal systems. {U S Geol Surv Circ}, 726: 58-83

Smith R L, Shaw H R, Luedke R G, Russell S L, 1978. Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States. {U S Geol Surv Open-File Rpt}, 78-925: 1-25

Smith W D, 1927. Contribution to the geology of southeastern Oregon (Steens and Pueblo Mountains). {J Geol}, 35: 421-440

Wood C A, Kienle J (eds), 1990. {Volcanoes of North America}. Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ Press, 354 p

Diamond Craters volcanic field consists of a 60 sq km area of basaltic lava flows and numerous cinder cones and maars located between the SE Oregon town of Burns and Steens Mountain. A basaltic pahoehoe lava field is overlain by deposits from phreatomagmatic and strombolian eruptions that formed a late-stage central vent complex of about 20 craters and cones that densely fill a 1.1 x 1.6 km box-shaped caldera. The age of Diamond Craters is constrained to within 8400-6400 calibrated radiocarbon years Before Present by dated floodplain deposits below the lava flows and the oldest tephra deposit in a maar erupted through the lava flow (Sherrod 2011, pers. comm.). Structural doming at Diamond Craters has created a series of six overlapping topographic highs. The highest of these is known as Graben Dome; its 1435-m-high summit is cut by a NW-SE-trending graben 0.4 x 2.1 km long and 30 m deep. Lava flows on the eastern side of the volcanic field and scattered cinder cones and maars formed during the last stage of activity.