Jackson Volcano, Extinct volcano beneath Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson Volcano is an extinct volcano resting roughly 2900 feet beneath the ground of the Mississippi capital, forming a geological dome structure. Gravity measurements have mapped the extent of this formation, which lies beneath several city neighborhoods.
Scientist E.W. Hilgard published the first study about the anticline beneath the city in 1860, leading to decades of geological investigations. Later research over the following century helped scientists understand how ancient volcanic activity shaped regional geology.
The hidden volcanic core beneath the city has shaped how engineers and planners approach construction projects for decades, as they work around the unusual subsurface. Today geologists and scientists still reference this formation as an example of hidden volcanic structures in North America.
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science offers exhibits about this underground geological formation and explains how it came to be. Visitors can learn there about the volcanic history of the region and its effect on the landscape today.
The carbon dioxide deposits within the volcanic formation are harvested commercially and fed into oil production processes along the Gulf Coast. These gas reserves make the extinct volcano a practical resource for regional industry.
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