ANALYZING THE GEOMORPHIC EVOLUTION OF CINDER CONES IN CENTRAL OREGON

Many active volcanic regions have large cinder cone fields, but these areas are often understudied with respect to the larger volcanoes in the vicinity. Cinder cones are useful geological features for landscape evolution analysis because they generally have known symmetric initial states and follow a similar pattern of degradation as they are exposed to erosive processes. This study aims to understand the parameters that influence cinder cone evolution in Central Oregon by utilizing newly available morphology and age data to create a predictive model for cinder cone formation ages. The model relates cone composition, morphology, and precipitation to the age of the initial cone eruption. Doing so will provide insight into the geologic histories of these landforms and provide constraints on the age of individual cones. Statistical analyses show that morphology is the most influential parameter in predicting cone age and that younger cones have significantly steeper slopes and more defined cone craters than older ones. Increased local precipitation and high silica content in cone materials may lead to younger predicted cone ages, but these parameters are less influential in predicting cone age than morphology. By creating a model of cone evolution, the study will understand how cones have evolved in Central Oregon and whether cones in other regions degrade similarly.