During which geological period was explosive activity in the Sutter Buttes recorded?

The explosive activity in the Sutter Buttes, a volcanic field located in Northern California, is best associated with the Pleistocene epoch. This geological period, which lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, is characterized by significant climatic fluctuations and the development of extensive glaciation. During this time, the Sutter Buttes experienced volcanic activity that included explosive eruptions, which formed the unique volcanic geology observed today.

In contrast, the Holocene is the current geological epoch that began approximately 11,700 years ago and is characterized by a relatively stable climate following the last Ice Age, making it an unlikely candidate for explosive volcanism in the Sutter Buttes. The Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, part of the Mesozoic era, are also not relevant to the Sutter Buttes' volcanic activity, as they occurred much earlier and do not correlate with the timing of the volcanic eruptions observed in this area. Thus, the Pleistocene is correctly identified as the period during which explosive activity in the Sutter Buttes occurred.