West Elk Peak, elevation 13,042 ft (3,975 m), is the highest summit in the West Elk Mountains of Gunnison County, Colorado.[3] The mountain is in the West Elk Wilderness, northwest of Gunnison. The terrain consists mostly of volcanic breccia, known in this area as West Elk Breccia, dated at 35 to 30 million years old.
Geological History - The decipherable known geological history of this peak began in the late Paleozoic, where it formed into the eastern edge of the Uncompahgre highland. Around 10,000 to 15,000 feet of sediment covered the old highland surface in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic. During the Oligocene, the Colorado mineral belt began to form with the intrusion of two batholiths. One of these batholiths rose sufficiently near the surface, enough to feed volcanoes in the West Elk and San Juan Mountains. The resulting volcanic pile has been subjected to intermittent, occasional uplift as well as being shaped by water and ice. Mineral deposits are somewhat scarce in the surrounding area of the peak, but bituminous coal has been mined on the northern and eastern flanks.[5]
^1923-2011., Young, Robert G. (Robert Glen) (1984). Colorado west : land of geology and wildflowers. Young, Joann W. (Rev. ed.). Grand Junction, Colo.: R.G. Young. ISBN0961101008. OCLC 12639106.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
west, peak, elevation, highest, summit, west, mountains, gunnison, county, colorado, mountain, west, wilderness, northwest, gunnison, terrain, consists, mostly, volcanic, breccia, known, this, area, west, breccia, dated, million, years, highest, pointelevation. West Elk Peak elevation 13 042 ft 3 975 m is the highest summit in the West Elk Mountains of Gunnison County Colorado 3 The mountain is in the West Elk Wilderness northwest of Gunnison The terrain consists mostly of volcanic breccia known in this area as West Elk Breccia dated at 35 to 30 million years old West Elk PeakWest Elk PeakHighest pointElevation13 042 ft 3 975 m 1 2 Prominence3 095 ft 943 m 3 Isolation13 78 mi 22 18 km 3 ListingColorado prominent summitsColorado range high pointsCoordinates38 43 04 N 107 11 58 W 38 7179 N 107 1994284 W 38 7179 107 1994284 Coordinates 38 43 04 N 107 11 58 W 38 7179 N 107 1994284 W 38 7179 107 1994284 1 GeographyWest Elk PeakColoradoLocationGunnison County Colorado U S 4 Parent rangeHighest summit of theWest Elk Mountains 3 Topo mapUSGS 7 5 topographic mapWest Elk Peak Colorado 1 Geological History The decipherable known geological history of this peak began in the late Paleozoic where it formed into the eastern edge of the Uncompahgre highland Around 10 000 to 15 000 feet of sediment covered the old highland surface in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic During the Oligocene the Colorado mineral belt began to form with the intrusion of two batholiths One of these batholiths rose sufficiently near the surface enough to feed volcanoes in the West Elk and San Juan Mountains The resulting volcanic pile has been subjected to intermittent occasional uplift as well as being shaped by water and ice Mineral deposits are somewhat scarce in the surrounding area of the peak but bituminous coal has been mined on the northern and eastern flanks 5 Contents 1 Historical names 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistorical names EditWest Elk Mountain West Elk Peak 4 See also Edit Geology portal Geography portal North America portal United States portal Colorado portal Mountains portalList of Colorado mountain ranges List of Colorado mountain summits List of Colorado fourteeners List of Colorado 4000 meter prominent summits List of the most prominent summits of Colorado List of Colorado county high pointsReferences Edit a b c WEST ELK D NGS Data Sheet National Geodetic Survey National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States Department of Commerce Retrieved October 22 2014 The elevation of West Elk Peak includes an adjustment of 2 105 m 6 91 ft from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88 a b c d West Elk Peak Colorado Peakbagger com Retrieved October 22 2014 a b West Elk Peak Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Retrieved October 29 2014 1923 2011 Young Robert G Robert Glen 1984 Colorado west land of geology and wildflowers Young Joann W Rev ed Grand Junction Colo R G Young ISBN 0961101008 OCLC 12639106 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link External links EditWest Elk Peak at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Resources from Wikiversity This Colorado state location article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Elk Peak amp oldid 1052416016, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
