Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-19
COON MOUNTAIN.
This Peculiar Crster Described ana In.
Probable Causes Of the Phenomena.


At the meeting Of the National Geographic
Society last evening Mr.. q. X. Gilbert OF tho
geological survey read valuable paper on the
subject. 'Coon Mountain. Arizona. and the
Diablo Meteorites" The meeting was held in
the lecture room Of the National Museum. and
Notwithstanding the unpleasant weather and
the disagreeable walking the large auditorium
was well filled. The lecture Was illustrated by
some excellent stereopticoa views. showing
photographs and maps of the region described
and diagrams Of its geological formation.
Several specimens of meteoric and volcanic
rocks from the same region were also ex-
hibited.
COON MOUNTAIN pEscRIBED.
From Mr.. Gilberts paper il appeared that
Coon mountain is a curiousIy shaped crater in
desoiate region some three days journey
from Tombstone, Ariz. The crater \ about
three-quarters of a mile in diameter, bowl
shaped and quite deep. and various reasons
have been gwen at times for Its existence
Near IL have been discovered SO many speci-
mems OF meteoric iron that il would seem al
most necessarily more than a mere coincidence
Speaking OF the unequal distribution of land
and water on the surface of the earth Mr. Gilbert
said that one reason given in explanation of
this was that there was greater density in
that hemisphere and hence a greater attracting
power for water. This unequal density might
be accounted for by some unusual accretion
there, such as would arise from contact with a
star. He then discussed the phenomena that
would arise from such a meeting and sug-
sested what he called the stellar theory as hay-
ing occurred to him as EXPLANATION OF this
curious crater.
In order to find ont what this theory was
worth Mr. Gilbert, accompanied by Mr. Marcus
Baker. visited Coon mountain and camped near
there for some time. carefully studvng all the
peculiarities of the place and making a number
OF observations to discover whether the reia-
ton between all this meteoric iron and the
crater was one OF cause and effect or of coinci-
dence merely. Coon mountain rises some 400
feet above the level of the surrounding plain
and the bottom of the crater is about 600 feet
| below the highest point on the rim.
| The rock strata of the plain are limestone
and sandstone and lie nearly flat In the rim
| OF the orator these rocks are bent upward. and
upon them lie broken fragments OF the same
| materials. The popularity Of the crater, from
| geological point OF view, is that it contains
| unique.
| CAUSES OF THE PHENOMENA.
| The phenomena observable in connection
| with the crater had given rise to a number of
hypothesis, two of which the speaker discussed
more fully than the Others. The glacial
! hypothesis and the theory of the limestone
/ sink are both inadequate. The true hypothesis
OF the crater implies the expenditure of a
| tremendous amount of energy IN a very brief
space Of time. BY the system of elimination
| All the HYPOTHESIS have been abandoned with
| the exception of the stellar and the explosive
aiagnetlc and volumetric tests were applied.
| and with the former the needle showed no
evidence of the presence of a considerable mass
OF iron After experiments With these same
needles later 1t was estimated that if the crater
| was formed by the penetration of such a mass
| 1t must have been buried fifty miles below the
surface to have affected the needle SO slightly.
by the yclumetric test it necessary TO
determine whether the debris surrounding the
crater would just I'LL it or exceed tine necessary
amount By tine supposed amount of the i'm
bedded star. IL was found that it would lust
| III II. and this would seem to compel the aban-
doninS OF the stellar theory. and We are forced
| TO believe that the relation of rock and crater
| Is one OF coincidence only, though the chances
| OF such a coincidence are not greater than one
| IN 5000 After comparing the phenomena OF
Coon mountain with those of the volcanic erup-
| tons In Japan ia 1858 Mr.. Gilbert said that IN
the future Coon mountain will probably be
| looked upon as an example of the bursting oi
the earth surface prior to the eruption of the
lava. Il is highly improbable that this catas-
| trophe was witnessed By man.