Fourteen eruptive pulses have been identified using Ar-Ar dating, with the most recent taking place around 0.67 to 0.95 Mya.

The vents in the eastern part of the field are aligned roughly east to west, perpendicular to the direction of least compression in the southern Great Plains.

Vents in the western part of the field are aligned more randomly, probably because of recent tectonic disturbance of this area.

ago on a relatively flat alluvial plain, the entire area was uplifted, and canyons were cut into the older basalt flows.

In 1988, J. Michael O'Neill and Harald H. Mehnert carried out the first detailed geologic study of the area and gave it the name of the Ocate volcanic field.