Canada contains more than a dozen active volcanoes.
Of these, the vast majority are within British Columbia, and are located far from civilization.
Two examples include the beautiful glacier covered Hoodoo Mountain volcano, and the volcano
responsible for an eruption in 1904, known as the Iskut Unuk River Cones.
Due to the relative remoteness of these volcanoes, many of Canada's volcanoes are not well studied.
One of these little known volcanic systems is centered on a group of islands in the western
part of the province.
There, a series of cinder cones and young lava flows can be found scattered throughout
the landscape.
This isolated group of volcanoes is known as Milbanke Sound, and is likely related in
origin to the Nazko volcano to the east.
This video will discuss this volcano and mention what its future hazards are.
For some additional context as to where this volcanic system is, the nearest city is the
indigenous town of Klemtu, which is 17 kilometers northeast of the most prominent volcanic cone
in the field.
The Milbanke Sound volcanic field consists of five small cinder cones and an assortment
of lava flows scattered across an area of approximately 700 square kilometers.
The exact reason why this isolated volcano exists is unclear, but it appears to be related
to an underlying hotspot.
Over many millions of years, this hotspot created a chain of several volcanic systems
including the Nazko volcano to the east which erupted approximately 7,000 years ago.
Thus, just like within Idaho, hotspot related volcanic activity occurs millions of years
after the hotspot moved away due to residual magma in the vicinity.
Each of these small volcanic cones within the Milbanke Sound Group are emplaced adjacent
to a series of strike slip faults.
These faults serve as a path of least resistance, allowing for magma to travel upwards and erupt
on the surface.
The exact ages of these cones is also unclear, but all 5 are almost certainly younger than
2.5 million years old.
The oldest vent is located on Lady Douglas Island, and likely formed around 2 million
years ago when a volume of basaltic magma erupted on the surface.
This lava shot into the sky via a fountain of lava, before falling back to the ground
and forming a small river of molten rock.
The material from this spatter cone subsequently traveled to the north for a kilometer, before
reaching the ocean.
The next vent formed on Price Island around 1 million years ago.
In a similar sequence of events, a small 70 meter tall cinder cone was constructed via
intermittent explosions of ash.
This eruption sent lava flows to the east.
Since the creation of this cinder cone, it has been heavily eroded by glaciers so only
its central core remains.
During the last ice age, a small vent on Dufferin Island sent a lava flow to the island's northern
coast.
It likely occurred during an interglacial period of the overall ice age.
The 4th vent, known as Helmet Peak appears to be approximately 20,000 years old.
It is a cinder cone which is the highest point in the overall volcanic field, standing at
335 meters above sea level.
Note the different vegetation on the area marked by its young lava flows.
These flows make it difficult for certain plants to grow, while allowing others such
as grass and smaller trees to excel.
The most recent vent to form is Kitasu Hill to the northwest.
Unlike the other vents, its central cone and rounded rim are easily visible due to its
young age.
It measures 1300 meters wide and 230 meters tall.
A smaller volcanic vent formed within its interior after an explosive eruption blew
off the top of the cone many thousands of years ago.
Based on its appearance, this cone is likely about 7,500 years old, meaning it erupted
around the same time as the Nazko cone to the east.
Although no recent eruptions have occurred, the long history of this field gives the possibility
that it could erupt again.
Although two settlements are located close enough to be effected by minor ashfall as
the result of any future eruption, they are otherwise too far away to experience any other
effects.
Using the US Geological Survey method of rating volcanoes, Milbanke Sound would be classified
as a very low threat volcano.
I hope that you enjoyed this video!
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