YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – New insight reveals what caused the big hydrothermal blast that sent visitors running at Yellowstone National Park last year (2024).
Scientists say the shallow hydrothermal system became sealed by minerals, which essentially “clogged the plumbing” and caused pressure to build up until an explosion sent rocks and other material hundreds of feet into the air.
Some of the rocks were a foot more more across. No one was hurt, but the boardwalk was heavily damaged, and remains closed to this day (August 2025).
In fact, the whole area is off limits to visitors because of an ongoing hydrothermal hazard. There have been several other small eruptions at the Black Diamond Pool in recent months, including a muddy eruption of water up to 30 feet high in May of 2025.
The region is being closely monitored now with seismic and acoustic monitoring, a GPS station, and a weather station.
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