Milbanke Sound Group, Volcanic group in British Columbia, Canada
The Milbanke Sound Group is a collection of five basaltic volcanoes distributed across four small islands within the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains. The islands display dark volcanic rock formations with steep slopes, and the tallest peak rises approximately 335 meters above the water.
These volcanoes formed after the last Ice Age, roughly 10,000 years ago, through volcanic activity in the region. Their minimal erosion patterns indicate their relatively recent geological creation.
The group takes its name from Milbanke Sound, the body of water it faces to the west. Three of the four islands it occupies—Swindle, Price and Lady Douglas—are uninhabited, while Lake Island holds Helmet Peak. The cones lie in the traditional territory of coastal First Nations, and the surrounding waters remain part of an active coastal landscape rather than a managed park.
Reaching the islands requires boat or helicopter transport, so advance planning is necessary before visiting. Working with local guides is recommended since infrastructure is limited and water conditions can be unpredictable.
Helmet Peak, the group's highest cone at 335 m, erupted basaltic tuff breccia that fell on glaciated granitic rock and on loose beach gravel. Blocks of granodiorite up to 2 m wide sit randomly suspended in that breccia, and the basalt of Lake Island carries abundant 0.5 to 1 cm labradorite and clinopyroxene phenocrysts.
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