# Mount Hampton

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**Mount Hampton**[a] is a [shield volcano](/source/Shield_volcano) with a circular ice-filled [caldera](/source/Caldera). It is a twin volcano with [Whitney Peak](/source/Whitney_Peak_(Antarctica)) to the northwest and has erupted [phonolite](/source/Phonolite) rocks. It is the northernmost of the [volcanoes](/source/Volcano) which comprise the [Executive Committee Range](/source/Executive_Committee_Range) in [Marie Byrd Land](/source/Marie_Byrd_Land), [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica) and was active during the [Miocene](/source/Miocene).

## Geography and geology

Mount Hampton is the northernmost volcano of the [Executive Committee Range](/source/Executive_Committee_Range) in [Marie Byrd Land](/source/Marie_Byrd_Land), [Antarctica](/source/Antarctica). It has the form of a symmetrical uneroded [shield volcano](/source/Shield_volcano)[1] with an "impressive" appearance and an ice-filled[2] 6.5 by 5.5 kilometres (4.0 by 3.4 mi) wide [caldera](/source/Caldera).[3] Like other volcanoes in the Executive Committee Range, it is a paired volcano[4] with the northwesterly 3,003 metres (9,852 ft) high [Whitney Peak](/source/Whitney_Peak_(Antarctica)) and the southeasterly 3,323 metres (10,902 ft) high [Marks Peak](/source/Marks_Peak), which is the main summit of Mount Hampton.[5][b] The northwesterly summit is associated with its own caldera, which is partly cut by the Mount Hampton caldera on the southeastern flank and buried by the lava flows from the latter.[6] The centres of the two calderas are about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) apart.[7] Based on outcrops, it appears that most of the volcano is formed by flow rocks[8] but cinder and [lava bombs](/source/Lava_bomb) occur at [parasitic vents](/source/Parasitic_vent).[9]

The mountain rises about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) above the surface of the [West Antarctic Ice Sheet](/source/West_Antarctic_Ice_Sheet)[10] which buries most of the edifice, and [moraine](/source/Moraine) ridges are found at its base on the ice sheet.[11] Owing to climate conditions, the persistence of permanent ice atop of the mountain is unlikely over the long term;[12] erosion there appears to have been episodic[13] with maxima during [interglacials](/source/Interglacial)[14] and there is no evidence of [cirque](/source/Cirque) formation.[15] [Lichens](/source/Lichen) have been found on the mountain.[16]

### Composition

The volcano is formed by [phonolite](/source/Phonolite) rocks, but [parasitic vents](/source/Parasitic_vent) have also erupted [basanite](/source/Basanite)[17] and Whitney Peak also erupted [trachyte](/source/Trachyte) and [benmoreite](/source/Benmoreite).[18] [Hawaiite](/source/Hawaiite) has been reported as well.[19] The volcanic rocks contain [augite](/source/Augite) and [feldspar](/source/Feldspar); further, [spinel](/source/Spinel)-containing [lherzolite](/source/Lherzolite) [xenoliths](/source/Xenolith) have been found.[20] In general, composition is unique for each volcano in the Executive Committee Range.[21]

## Eruption history

Mount Hampton is one of the oldest volcanoes of Antarctica and was active during the [Miocene](/source/Miocene).[22] Despite this, it is less eroded than some younger volcanoes in the region;[23] in general, the ages of the Marie Byrd Land volcanoes are not correlated to their erosion status.[24] It appears that Whitney Peak is the older half of the edifice and that volcanic activity then migrated to Mount Hampton.[25] More generally, volcanism in the Executive Committee Range migrated southwards over time at an average rate of 0.7 cm/year, although Mount Hampton and its southern neighbour [Mount Cumming](/source/Mount_Cumming) were simultaneously active 10 million years ago.[26]

Last parasitic eruptions took place around 11.4 million years ago[27] and the youngest radiometric dates are 8.3 million years.[28] As at other volcanoes of Marie Byrd Land, the parasitic activity at Mount Hampton occurred after a long period of dormancy.[29] However, the presence around the caldera rim of snow-covered[30] inactive 10–20 metres (33–66 ft) high [ice towers](/source/Fumarolic_ice_tower)[c] indicate that the mountain is geothermally active[31] and may have erupted during the [Holocene](/source/Holocene).[32] Later research suggested that the ice towers were actually formed by wind-driven erosion of snow and ice. There is no evidence of [geothermal](/source/Geothermal_activity) processes[33] and [seismic activity](/source/Seismic_activity) recorded at the volcano may be due to volcano-tectonic processes or due to ice movement.[34]

## See also

- [List of volcanoes in Antarctica](/source/List_of_volcanoes_in_Antarctica)

## Notes

1. Discovered by the USAS on a flight, December 15, 1940, and named for Ruth Hampton, Dept. of the Interior member of the USAS Executive Committee.[35] Two field expeditions took place in 1967-1968 and 1990-1991.[36]

1. Sometimes the maximum height of Mount Hampton is given as 3,325 metres (10,909 ft).[37]

1. Ice towers form when gas escaping from [fumaroles](/source/Fumarole) freezes in the cold Antarctic air.[38] Exposed ice towers on Mount Hampton must be recent given the high winds that would otherwise erode them.[39]

## Sources

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. GNIS

1. Wilch, McIntosh and Panter 2021, p.546

1. LeMasurier and Rex, 1989, p.7225

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.194

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.189

1. Rocchi, LeMasurier and Vincenzo 2006, p.1001

1. Rocchi, LeMasurier and Vincenzo 2006, p.997

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.190

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.190

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.442

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.444

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2016

1. Lemasurier and Rocchi 2005, p.57

1. Scharon and Early, p.91

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. LeMasurier and Rex, 1989, p.7228

1. Panter *et al.* 2021, p.580

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. LeMasurier and Rex, 1989, p.7229

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. Rocchi, LeMasurier and Vincenzo 2006, p.997

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.158

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.189

1. LeMasurier and Rex, 1989, p.7227

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.439

1. Carracedo *et al.* 2019, p.442

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.197

1. LeMasurier p.91

1. LeMasurier and Wade, 1968

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.193

1. Wilch, McIntosh and Panter 2021, p.547

1. Lough *et al.* 2012

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.193

1. Wilch, McIntosh and Panter 2021, p.520

1. GNIS

1. LeMasurier and Thompson, 1990, p.193

1. LeMasurier and Wade, 1968

- Carracedo, Ana; Rodes, Angel; Stuart, Finlay; Smellie, John (April 2016). "Understanding complex exposure history of Mount Hampton, West Antarctica using cosmogenic 3He, 21Ne and 10Be in olivine". *EGUGA*. [Bibcode:2016EGUGA..1817178C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2016EGUGA..1817178C)
- Carracedo, A.; Rodés, Á.; Smellie, J. L.; Stuart, F. M. (15 February 2019). ["Episodic erosion in West Antarctica inferred from cosmogenic 3He and 10Be in olivine from Mount Hampton"](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169555X18304689). *Geomorphology*. **327**: 438–445. [Bibcode:2019Geomo.327..438C](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019Geomo.327..438C). [doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2018.11.019](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2018.11.019). [ISSN 0169-555X](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0169-555X). [S2CID 134667311](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:134667311)
- LeMasurier, W.E. ["Volcanic geology of central Marie Byrd Land"](https://www.coldregions.org/vufind/Content/AJUSvIIIn4). *Antarctic Journal of the United States*. **3** (4): 90–91.
- Lemasurier, Wesley E. & Rocchi, Sergio (1 March 2005). "Terrestrial record of post‐eocene climate history in marie byrd land, west antarctica". *Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography*. **87** (1): 57. [doi:10.1111/j.0435-3676.2005.00244.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0435-3676.2005.00244.x). [ISSN 0435-3676](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0435-3676). [S2CID 128880997](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:128880997)
- LeMasurier, Wesley E. & Wade, F. Alton (18 October 1968). ["Fumarolic Activity in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica"](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.162.3851.352.a). *Science*. **162** (3851): 352. [Bibcode:1968Sci...162..352L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1968Sci...162..352L). [doi:10.1126/science.162.3851.352](https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3851.352). [ISSN 0036-8075](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0036-8075). [PMID 17836656](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17836656). [S2CID 19337445](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:19337445)
- LeMasurier, W. E. & Rex, D. C. (1989). "Evolution of linear volcanic ranges in Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica". *Journal of Geophysical Research*. **94** (B6): 7223. [Bibcode:1989JGR....94.7223L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1989JGR....94.7223L). [doi:10.1029/JB094iB06p07223](https://doi.org/10.1029/JB094iB06p07223). [ISSN 0148-0227](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0148-0227)
- Lough, A. C.; Barcheck, C. G.; Wiens, D. A.; Nyblade, A.; Aster, R. C.; Anandakrishnan, S.; Huerta, A. D.; Wilson, T. J. (December 2012). "Subglacial volcanic seismicity in Marie Byrd Land detected by the POLENET/ANET seismic deployment". *AGUFM*. **2012**: T41B–2587. [Bibcode:2012AGUFM.T41B2587L](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012AGUFM.T41B2587L)
- Panter, K. S.; Wilch, T. I.; Smellie, J. L.; Kyle, P. R.; McIntosh, W. C. (2021). ["Chapter 5.4b Marie Byrd Land and Ellsworth Land: petrology"](http://mem.lyellcollection.org/lookup/doi/10.1144/M55-2019-50). *Geological Society, London, Memoirs*. **55** (1): 577–614. [doi:10.1144/M55-2019-50](https://doi.org/10.1144/M55-2019-50). [ISSN 0435-4052](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0435-4052). [S2CID 233620473](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:233620473)
- Rocchi, Sergio; LeMasurier, Wesley E.; Vincenzo, Gianfranco Di (1 July 2006). ["Oligocene to Holocene erosion and glacial history in Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica, inferred from exhumation of the Dorrel Rock intrusive complex and from volcano morphologies"](https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article/118/7-8/991/125340). *GSA Bulletin*. **118** (7–8): 991–1005. [Bibcode:2006GSAB..118..991R](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2006GSAB..118..991R). [doi:10.1130/B25675.1](https://doi.org/10.1130/B25675.1). [ISSN 0016-7606](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0016-7606)
- LeMasurier, W. E. & Thomson, J. W. (eds.) (1990). *Volcanoes of the Antarctic Plate and Southern Oceans*. [American Geophysical Union](/source/American_Geophysical_Union). p. 512 pp. ISBN 0-87590-172-7.
- Scharon, L. & Early, T. ["Paleomagnetic investigations in Marie Byrd Land"](https://www.coldregions.org/vufind/Content/AJUSvIIIn4). *Antarctic Journal of the United States*. **3** (4): 92.
- Wilch, T. I.; McIntosh, W. C.; Panter, K. S. (1 January 2021). ["Chapter 5.4a Marie Byrd Land and Ellsworth Land: volcanology"](https://mem.lyellcollection.org/content/55/1/515.abstract). *Geological Society, London, Memoirs*. **55** (1): 515–576. [doi:10.1144/M55-2019-39](https://doi.org/10.1144/M55-2019-39). [ISSN 0435-4052](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0435-4052). [S2CID 233632723](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:233632723)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mount Hampton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hampton) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hampton?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.