The crack is just hundreds of miles from Yellow stone at the east side and also Bighorn it self is volcanic chamber of chain super eruption of the US plato .Does this claps it's a sign of an eruption or it is just a normal crack ?Geologist answer please.
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It seems to be a slope collapse due to tension. It is not related to magmatism unless the area has experienced significant uplift in recent time.
A volcanic eruption will be preceded by numerous earthquakes, ground swelling, and release of magmatic gases...so that isn't likely.
It is true that the Yellowstone hotspot will manifest itself further east, but the gash is probably due to collapse after erosion from springwater.
aladdinwa
It's just part of the normal erosion process. If you look, you would probably see old cracks, also.
Anonymous
That is a good point