tech
April 12, 2026
New paper argues history, not mantle plume, powers Yellowstone
A now-vanished plate under North America may open the crust below Yellowstone.
TL;DR
- A new paper suggests the Yellowstone hotspot is powered by stresses from the vanished Farallon plate, not a mantle plume.
- The Farallon plate's subduction beneath North America created stresses that opened conduits for magma to reach the surface.
- This theory explains the different chemistries of eruptions at Yellowstone and the Snake River Plain, as well as the gap between them.
- The model utilizes seismic data and geological history to understand the magma plumbing system.
- The sinking of the Farallon plate's remains drives mantle flow, which encounters thicker North American crust, creating stresses that form volcanic pathways.
- This alternative explanation removes the need for a mantle plume and accounts for the complexity of Yellowstone's volcanism.
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