Electron Mudflow Boulder, Orting, Washington State

This volcanic boulder, is from the Electron Mudflow, in the town of Orting (Washington State, USA). The Electron Mudflow began about 500 years ago--from the Sunset Amphitheatre, located near the summit of Mount Rainier. This mudflow boulder is technically called an andesite breccia, which is a grayish-color lava rock, containing many angular-shaped rocks that are held together within a single rock (or boulder). A volcanic mudflow is known in geology as a lahar--which is a mudflow that originates from a volcano.
Mount Rainier is the tallest volcano in the Cascade Range. The 14,410 foot high mountain contains a cubic mile of glacial ice. Mount Rainier contains more glacial ice than all the other Cascade Range volcanoes combined. Mount Rainier also is an active volcano. An eruption can cause steep slopes around the mountain to fall--such as the Sunset Amphitheatre and other areas around the mountain. Additionally, hot ash and lava in an eruption event can quickly melt snow and glacial ice. This could mobilize large amounts of rock and debris into volcanic mudflows--which potentially could travel to populated areas of the Puget Lowland. Various geological studies (by the US Geological Survey) have mapped many historic, volcanic mudflows from Mount Rainer.
This large mudflow boulder is located in the town of Orting, Washington. The elevation of Orting is 190 feet above sea level. The huge size of this boulder demonstrates the power of a volcanic mudflow event, and that a future mudflow event could reach the Orting area again. In fact, similar size mudflow boulders are temporarily exposed in the Carbon River (located next to Orting)--during periodic flooding events. This boulder is associated with Electron Mudflow--which about 500 years ago, burst through an ancient forest, located in the valley presently occupied by Orting. Ten foot diameter trees were shattered by this mudflow event in the Orting area (roughly 500 years ago). Excavation for new construction in the Orting area, often reveals more trees that were victims of the Electron Mudflow.
Efforts have been made to warn Orting residents that future volcanic mudflows could occur from Mount Rainier. Orting has done much to prepare, because a future mudflow could be deadly. An example of a modern mudflow, occurred in 1985--in the country of Columbia, in South America. Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Columbia, is similar to Mount Rainier, in Washington. Mudflows generated by the 1985 Columbian eruption killed 23,000 people.
In an effort to increase awareness of volcanic hazards in Western Washington, survivors of the 1985 eruption in Columbia have twice visited Orting. The survivors from Columbia, made presentations that recommend Washingtonians to take volcanic hazards around Mount Rainier seriously. [References: A) • Orting Lahar Preparedness ; B) • Orting students practi... ; and C) mil.wa.gov/news/lessons-learn...].
Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude. Don't forget that Geology isn't rocket science--it's Rock Science! Please "like" and subscribe to this CZcams channel!
Music (CZcams Audio Library): Hotlanta (by Track Tribe)
Copyright by David Knoblach, 2024. All rights reserved

[@GeologyDude]

Hello Rock People! This is Dave the Geology Dude! I hope that you enjoyed this educational video. Please “like” and subscribe to this channel, or leave a comment!

[@shermangoering]

what's going on with that music?

[@GeologyDude]

Ha ha. On my shorter videos, that don’t have narration, I typically have music. I put lots of notes in the video description area though. These “object spins” often take days to make. I eventually put them into a longer narrated video. But I often like to post something more promptly

[@shermangoering]

thanks for your work, GD....don't forget that you have a good voice...much better than this music...GULP... have a great day!@@GeologyDude

[@GeologyDude]

@@shermangoering i appreciate your suggestion. I plan to narrate much more often in the future