Taos Plateau volcanic field

Rio Grande Gorge

The Taos Plateau volcanic field is an area of extensive volcanism in Taos County, New Mexico, United States. It is the second largest volcanic field in the Rio Grande Rift, spreading over 7,000 km2. The age of most of the vents and associated lava flows in the field is estimated to be between 1.8 and 4 million years, with a few 22-million-year-old vents. The composition of the lavas varies from tholeiitic basalt to rhyolite. Landforms include sheet flows, cinder cones, and shield volcanoes. The sheet flows are well-exposed in the Rio Grande Gorge carved by the Rio Grande.[1] The highest point of the field is San Antonio Mountain at 10,908 feet (3,325 m).

Notable vents

NameElevationLocationLast eruption
metersfeetCoordinates
San Antonio Mountain3,32510,90836°51′34″N 106°01′7.3″W / 36.85944°N 106.018694°W / 36.85944; -106.018694-
Ute Mountain3,07610,09336°56′14″N 105°41′02″W / 36.93722°N 105.68389°W / 36.93722; -105.68389-
Cerro de la Olla2,8879,47536°45′21″N 105°47′55″W / 36.75583°N 105.79861°W / 36.75583; -105.79861-
Cerro del Aire2,7509,04536°43′08″N 105°55′03″W / 36.71889°N 105.91750°W / 36.71889; -105.91750-
Cerro Chiflo2,7368,97836°44′54″N 105°42′35″W / 36.74833°N 105.70972°W / 36.74833; -105.70972-
Guadalupe Mountain North2,6888,82036°44′27″N 105°37′36″W / 36.74083°N 105.62667°W / 36.74083; -105.62667-
Guadalupe Mountain South2,6588,72236°43′00″N 105°38′56″W / 36.71667°N 105.64889°W / 36.71667; -105.64889-
Cerro Montoso2,6388,65536°40′24″N 105°46′04″W / 36.67333°N 105.76778°W / 36.67333; -105.76778-

References

  1. ↑ "Taos Plateau Volcanic Field | New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science". www.nmnaturalhistory.org. Retrieved 2018-10-13.

Further reading

  • Wood, Charles A.; Kienle, Jürgen, eds. (1990). Volcanoes of North America. Cambridge University Press. pp. 290–292. ISBN 0-521-43811-X.

Coordinates: 36°50′N 105°50′W / 36.83°N 105.83°W / 36.83; -105.83


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