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In Lava Beds National Monument (Northern California), these are the "Fleener Chimneys," which were created when volcanic gasses propelled large paste-like globs of lava into the air. The globs of lava then fell back down and plastered themselves into these three irregluarly-shapped spatter cones. The chimneys straddle a large block fault which provides a natural conduit for magmas coming from deep below. Looking down into the actual "chimney," which in this case is fairly large (probably 10' diameter). The rocks at the bottom are there because stupid people throw them in. At one point, this was completely full of such junk, but volunteers removed the 35 tons of debris....of course, stupid people persevere, and are again filling it up. (09/29/2004)