It is time for some serious "food for thought." In this blog, back in September 27, of 2016, there was an entry made which is titled Concealed Faults and Rifts in the Pacific Northwest (link). There is something mentioned in that entry which now, because of a real life example, needs to be looked at more closely. It is time to consider the speed at which the layers of igneous or magmatic rock were formed in the Columbia Lava Plateau, which covered a large portion of what is now Washington and Oregon, plus a portion of Idaho.
About half way down in the blog entry linked above, two sources are noted which state two different flow rates for the lava which spread out over the surrounding countryside and formed the Columbia Lava Plateau. The first source, which is linked here, declares the following:
"It is believed that the fronts of the lava flows were several stories (approximately 30 meters) high as they flowed from the eruption center at speeds up to three miles per hour (Alt and Hyndman, 1985). These basalts erupted from long fissures in the ground, not from volcanic cones."
The second source, a page linked here from the Western Oregon University (WOU) site, on PDF page 3 of 19, regarding the Columbia Plateau, speaks about "the basalts that flooded this province." The page speaks about "an output per flow of over 100 cubic miles of basalt." But then it states: "Larger eruptions, however, encompass over 500 cubic miles of basalt for a single flow."
The WOU page speaks of the speed of the flow, with these words: "Thick, successive outpourings of lava spread over the landscape often moving at a speed of up to 30 miles an hour to form the Columbia River basalts, the primary group in the plateau today." The page then goes on to speak about the total volume of basalt in the lava plateau, which is stated at "over 42,000 cubic miles, [which] would be enough to construct a wall of lava one mile wide and almost 2 miles high around the earth."
Okay, so we are speaking about a whole lot of basaltic lava in the Columbia Lava Plateau. The evidence indicates that this basaltic lava came gushing or rapidly flooding out of immense cracks in the ground at an incredible rate. But, the first source indicates that the front of the spreading lava flows moved away from the eruption center "at speeds up to three miles per hour." The second source, from Western Oregon University, states that "thick, successive outpourings of lava spread over the landscape often moving at a speed of up to 30 miles an hour..."
Looking at the information above, there is something which needs to be clarified. We see that there are two very different speed ranges given for how fast the basaltic lava spread out in the Columbia Plateau region. Once again, the first source states that the lava moved "at speeds up to three miles per hour," and the second source states that this lava was "often moving at a speed of up to 30 miles an hour." So, which one of these two rates is the most realistic, when considering all the evidence?
There is a reason to want to know the truth about how fast this lava can move. With a lava flow moving at three miles per hour, a person could potentially get out of the way of the lava flow. But, with a flow rate of 30 miles per hour, there would have been no chance for a human to outrun this flow, if any human would have been present to see this incredible geologic event. So, is it possible that this basaltic lava in the Columbia Plateau could have moved at speeds near 30 miles per hour, as the plateau was forming?
The Columbia Lava Plateau was formed by "flood basalts." (link) When these "flood basalts" erupt from the ground, "a lot of easy flowing, highly fluid basaltic lava can pour out of the fissure all at once." (link) A source, linked here, declares that flood basalts spread "out across the land like water in a flood."
Now, once again very clearly: these flood basalts, like those which created the Columbia Lava Plateau, are known to flow across the countryside like water. So, are there any examples from our present day which can potentially indicate just how fast this type of lava can flow. What about that which is currently happening (in June 2018) in the U.S. state of Hawaii? Well, let us look at a few examples.
A page linked here speaks about "Kilauea's Rivers of Fire and Lava." Yes, at first this volcano was putting out lava which slowly oozed across the land, as it slowly destroyed things. But then things changed. The lava then became more fluid and began to flow like water, yes, like water in a rushing river.
Getting back to the Cascadia region, the WOU page spoke about the basaltic lava in the Columbia Plateau region "often moving at a speed of up to 30 miles an hour." Let us see, in the videos linked below about the lava in Hawaii, how fluid this lava can be while it is still in the ground and then what it can look like as it flows across the land. And, this is just in a small area or in just a rather confined river of fire.
Now, imagine this lava, but in very thick layers as it was in the Cascadia region, gushing out of the ground, layer after layer, and flooding in all directions across the countryside. Let us imagine this happening at a rather high rate of speed. Welcome to the forming Columbia Lava Plateau. And yes, history has shown that those types of things which have happened before on this earth can definitely happen again. That may, at least to a degree, go along with the saying: "History repeats itself."
Now it is time to educate ourselves about what flowing lava can look like, plus what it can do. Just check out the videos below and realize that this particular geologic event in Hawaii is showing only a rather "small scale" event upon this earth.
EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS --- "The Lake of Fire":
Video Inside Halemaumau Lava Lake Dropped 240 Yards [video time - 0:39]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl-QvtvsKr4
Drones Sacrificed for Spectacular Volcano Video [video time - 3:30]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFIWWM0Iv-U
Lava surfaces in Kilauea volcano crater, Hawaii [video time - 0:41]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2SnEY0WhwU
EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS --- "The Coming Out":
Aerial footage Kilauea eruption in Hawaii (June 11, 2018) [video time - 10:14]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcBQKX1ivUs
Kilauea erupts again [video time - 1:58]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFzNxNrqd-c
Lava from...Kilauea volcano lit up the night on Tuesday (May 22) [video time - 1:36]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMSRe2oqnzU
Raw Video: Lava Bursts from New Fissure on Kilauea Flank [video time - 1:32]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDZ9sLN_8c4
New fissures open, lava becomes more fluid in Leilani Estates [video time - 5:00]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTcWo6n6V74
Hawaii Update/500' Lava Fountain/Approaching Geothermal Plant [video time - 8:10]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1cM8Cvd9SU
Red Lava Rivers From Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano - Aerial Views [video time - 1:40]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG84-mSrXqo
Destructive lava flows in Hawaii (June 8, 2018) [video time - 11:08]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLVdTX4pu4E
Hawaii's Lava Flow Is a Mesmerizing Force [video time - 6:36]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hyE2NO7HnU
River of Fire - Mesmerizing Hawaii Lava Timelapse 4K [video time - 2:57]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CX8DSLWv0C8
EDUCATIONAL VIDEO --- "Just a Fast Flowing Stream":
Lava River Flowing From Tube Kilauea Volcano Hawaii [video time - 0:25]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdCoGOumKe4
EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS --- "The Rushing, Fiery Flood":
Hawaii Volcano Eruption Update - Tuesday Morning (June 19, 2018) [video time - 2:41]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NabumrEDpkA
Amazing Lava Flows in Hawaii (June 15, 2018) [video time - 12:34]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQAxaQVpxtY
New Lava Flow in Hawaii (June 17, 2018) [video time - 10:14]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BPdGC0dcMc
Beautiful Lava River in Hawaii (JUNE 18, 2018) [video time - 12:02]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDalQKbn_Ko
BASIC TRUTHS and SOME QUESTIONS:
When the fiery basaltic magma rapidly spreads across the land in virtually all directions, as it did when the Columbia Lava Plateau was formed, if a person were there, they could run, but they could never hide from the fast-moving destruction. Now for some questions.
Is there any chance that a massive Cascadia earthquake event could be associated with major, deep cracking and movement in the groundmass? Is there any chance that basaltic lava could once again gush out of the earth and flow across the land and cover a large portion of that which is now Washington, or Oregon, or even Idaho?
Once again, as a point of reference, that which is happening in Hawaii is just "small scale stuff." The geologic history of the Cascadia region has shown what "large scale stuff" actually looks like! So, to those in the Cascadia region, do you think you can handle the "large scale stuff" when it actually happens?
A NOTE:
By the majority upon this earth, the information presented above may be considered as a good stopping point in your reading. But for the few, there may be some further things to consider.
AN OLD WRITING:
Now, but only for those who would like to consider life further or for those who would like a deeper understanding of things upon this earth, it is time for some real "food for thought."A long time ago, there were instructions given to a certain group of people. There were many things which they were clearly told that they were not to be doing. Then the set of instructions declared:
"Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: and the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants." (link1) (link2) (link3)
SOME FURTHER QUESTIONS:
Could flood basalts rapidly flowing across and covering portions of the region now occupied by Washington, Oregon and Idaho be a good example of the land "vomiting something out"...vomiting something out from immense cracks in the ground?
Is there any possibility that major geologic events which have happened before on this earth could happen again, maybe even at a different or larger scale? If an event similar to the formation of the Columbia Lava Plateau were to happen again, would the land, in effect, be vomiting out the inhabitants thereof?
And then, but only for those who want a deeper understanding of things, when considering these molten or fiery things, there is that thing which is called the Lake of Fire. (link) Is there any way that it could fit into a discussion about fiery geologic events which can happen upon this earth?
THE PORTLAND METRO AREA:
As we watch the volcanic things which have recently been happening in Hawaii, there may be some things for those in the Cascadia region to consider, especially for those living in Portland, Oregon.
Portland is built in the Boring Lava Field. (link) According to the linked source, there are "at least 32 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes lying within a radius of 13 miles (21 km) of Kelly Butte, which is approximately 4 miles (6 km) east of downtown Portland, Oregon, in the United States."
It appears that at some earlier point in history, the Portland region was "bubbling and smoking" all over with volcanic activity. For those who have seriously studied geology, some have come to the conclusion that volcanoes and their "offspring" may become dormant, but it appears that a volcano or volcanic vent from the past cannot necessarily be guaranteed as being extinct.
It does appear that there may be more to this story about volcanic activity in the Portland area than just the "32 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes" noted above. In the Portland area, there are at least 95 lava vents. These vents are found in the West Hills of Portland and in areas southward and eastward from there, plus even up into Washington. These volcanic features are noted on a map which is linked here.
The Portland metro area has a large population. If volcanic activity were to ever "awaken" in the Portland region, many residents could be negatively affected. So possibly a question should be asked. How would Portland respond if a Hawaii type of event, or something even larger, were to occur in the local area?
For further reading:
Current Expectations for a Cascadia Mega-Quake
https://cascadian.neocities.org/cascadiaquake.htm
