Tseax Cone
Tseax Cone (/ˈsiːæks/ SEE-aks) is a small volcano in the Nass Ranges of the Hazelton Mountains in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It has an elevation of 609 metres (1,998 feet) and lies within an east–west valley through which a tributary of the Tseax River flows. The volcano consists of two nested structures and was the source of four lava flows that descended into neighbouring valleys. A secondary eruptive centre lies just north of Tseax Cone on the opposite side of a lava-dammed lake. It probably formed simultaneously with Tseax Cone but the timing of volcanism at the two centres is not precisely known; they were both active sometime in the last 800 years. The area has been designated as a provincial park to protect these features.
| Tseax Cone | |
|---|---|
| Aiyansh Volcano | |
Tseax Cone with Melita Lake in the background | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 609 m (1,998 ft) |
| Coordinates | 55°06′38″N 128°53′56″W |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Tseax River (Ksi Sii Aks) |
| Native name | Wil Ksi Baxhl Mihl (Nisga'a) |
| English translation | Where the Fire Ran Out |
| Geography | |
Tseax Cone Location in British Columbia | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| District | Cassiar Land District |
| Protected area | Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Provincial Park |
| Parent range | Nass Ranges |
| Topo map | NTS 103P2 Lava Lake |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Less than 800 years old |
| Mountain type | Tephra cones |
| Type of rock | Basanite and trachybasalt |
| Volcanic region | Northern Cordilleran Province |
| Last eruption | 1690 ± 150 years |
Tseax Cone lies within an ecoregion characterized by mountainous terrain and several streams. Rainforests occur at the volcano as well as several species of mammals. Lichens and mosses cover most of the Tseax Cone lava flows, although rainforests and waterbodies also obscure them. The volcano is the subject of legends told by the local indigenous people. They describe the destruction of villages along the Nass River and the death of several people from inhaling fumes. Renewed eruptions at Tseax Cone could start wildfires and block local streams with lava flows. The volcano and lava flows can be accessed via provincial highways and backcountry roads.