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The Washburn Expedition and the Hayden Survey discovered Mud Volcano during the early 1870s. Both groups heard the sound "resembling the reports of distant artillery" for several miles before arriving at Mud Volcano. Mud Volcano at that time exploded with mud from its hillside alcove. Since then Mud Volcano has quieted but still remains a bubbling, seething spring.

Mud Volcano Area, also known for Black Dragon's Caldron, Sour Lake, Mud Caldron, Dragon's Mouth Spring, and Sulfur Caldron, is very acidic. Iron sulfide is responsible for the dark-gray, blacker brown-colored water, while hydrogen sulfide produces the "rotten egg" smell common to the Mud Volcano area.

Sulfur Caldron is an unusual spring. It has a high acidity of nearly pH 1.2, similar to citric acid, and the growth of a specific bacterium has produced a yellow-colored spring which contrasts to the other dark-gray or black, iron sulfide springs.


DRAGON'S MOUTH dragons mouth
Temperature 170.2°F Dimensions 18x30 feet. Depth 16 feet. Dragon's Mouth is a turbulent hot spring with a cavernous mouth. Water sloshes rhythmically in and out of the cavern giving the impression of a large overflow; however, the actual discharge is quite small. Much of the activity and energy is located within the cavern. As hot water rises to the surface, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and water vapor gases expand creating a pressure explosion in the cavern. The resulting activity is sloshing, belching, and steaming.


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MUD VOLCANO mud volcano
Temperature 184°F Dimensions 27x36 feet. Depth 17 feet. The 1871 Hayden Expedition named this thermal feature. At that time Mud Volcano was a very active mud spring with bellowing and exploding mud. In later years since its discovery it has not shown the same forcefulness. However, minor earthquake tremors during 1979 increased heat and water activity and Mud Volcano began bursting from the crater, spilling mud across the boardwalks. This activity decreased shortly thereafter and it has since been a quiet caldron with occasional churning caused by rising gases.


BLACK DRAGON'S CALDRON black
Temperature 191 °F Dimensions 80x200 feet. Depth 36 feet. This thermal feature did not exist before the winter of 1947-1948, and it was first discovered on June 10,1948. Thermal activity may have shifted from Sour Lake to form Black Dragon's Caldron. When it was discovered, a crater about 43x68 feet existed at the northern end of the present pool. Since then, eruptive activity has slowly moved south 200 feet along a natural crack. Hydrogen sulfide rising within the spring has combined with oxygen to form sulfuric acid, creating a hostile environment for plant life. Iron sulfides are responsible for the black color of the caldron.

 

 


For more information on Yellowstone National Park and
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YellowstoneNationalPark.com
- YellowstoneLodging.com
YellowstoneFlyFishing.com
- YellowstoneMedia.com


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