McDermitt Caldera
| McDermitt Caldera | |
|---|---|
Geologic cross-section of McDermitt Caldera | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Jordan Meadow Mountain |
| Elevation | 6,816 ft (2,078 m) |
| Coordinates | 41°51′01″N 118°02′12″W / 41.85028°N 118.03667°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 28 mi (45 km) north–south |
| Width | 22 mi (35 km) east–west |
| Geography | |
McDermitt Caldera Location of the caldera in Oregon and Nevada McDermitt Caldera McDermitt Caldera (Nevada) | |
| Location | Harney County, Oregon Malheur County, Oregon Humboldt County, Nevada |
| Range coordinates | 42°00′05″N 117°59′48″W / 42.00139°N 117.99667°W |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | 19 million years (Miocene) |
| Mountain type | Caldera |
| Last eruption | 16.39 ± 0.02 million years ago (Miocene) |
McDermitt Caldera is a Miocene caldera west of McDermitt in southeastern Oregon and northern Nevada in the United States. The oval-shaped caldera is about 28 miles (45 km) wide north–south and 22 miles (35 km) wide east–west. It was formed by the Yellowstone hotspot about 16.4 million years ago.
The highest point at McDermitt Caldera is 6,816 feet (2,078 m) above sea level at Jordan Meadow Mountain, which is part of the Montana Mountains of Nevada.
Before American settlement, the area was occupied by the seminomadic Shoshone and Northern Paiute people. Beginning in the mid-19th century, ranching became the primary human activity. The caldera contains significant ore deposits, some of which have been exploited. Mercury and uranium were mined in the 20th century, and exploration with an eye toward future lithium extraction began around 2017.
The caldera is also an important ecological region for endangered species such as sage grouse and the Lahontan cutthroat trout. Sage grouse populations here are particularly healthy despite declines elsewhere in the western United States.