A sudden muddy eruption erupted from Yellowstone’s Black Diamond Pool at 9:23 a.m. on Saturday, sending a geyser of mud up to 40 feet into the air.
The Sudden Muddy Eruption
Video shared by the USGS shows the mud spraying up and out from the pool just before 9:23 a.m. in Biscuit Basin, about midway between the park’s favorites Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic.
A History of Explosive Activity
The agency said the Black Diamond Pool was previously the site of a hydrothermal explosion in July 2024 that sent rocks and mud flying hundreds of feet high and damaged a boardwalk. That event prompted the area’s closure to visitors because of the damage and the potential for additional hazardous activity. Since then, so-called dirty eruptions reaching up to 40 feet (about 12 meters) have occurred sporadically.
New Monitoring Efforts
Researchers installed a new camera and a seismic and acoustic monitoring station this summer. Along with temperature sensors maintained by the Yellowstone National Park Geology Program, the instruments can better detect and characterize the eruptions.
The Latest Video and Its Significance
The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory webcam at Black Diamond Pool didn’t disappoint Saturday. “We got a nice clear view of one of these dirty eruptions under bright blue skies with the surroundings covered in snow (ah, winter in Yellowstone!),” USGS Volcanoes said on social media, noting that it was a great example of the kind of activity that has been happening at the spot over the past 19 months.
Patternless Eruptions
Experts say there is no real pattern to the eruptions at the pool and no precursors.
Yellowstone’s Hydrothermal Wonderland
Park officials say Yellowstone preserves the most extraordinary collection of hot springs, geysers, mud pots and fumaroles on Earth. More than 10,000 hydrothermal features are found within the park, over 500 of them geysers.
Key Takeaways
- A muddy eruption erupted from Black Diamond Pool at 9:23 a.m., reaching up to 40 feet.
- The pool has a history of hydrothermal explosions, including a July 2024 event that damaged a boardwalk.
- New cameras, seismic, acoustic, and temperature sensors improve detection and characterization.
The eruption is another reminder of Yellowstone’s dynamic hydrothermal system, with no discernible pattern or precursors, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and public awareness of the park’s powerful natural forces.
