The Elbert County tribune., 1906-08-09
LATE VOLCANOES
THEIR TRACES IN COLORADO AND
NEW MEXICO.
THE socoaao EARTHQUAKE
Line Of Volcanic Outflow Along the
Colorado Front Range Foothills
Near Boulder, Golden, Denver and
Colorado Springs = Dotsero Lava


Near Boulder, Golden, Denver and
Colorado Springs = Dotsero Lava
Beds.
(By Prof. Arthur Lakes in Mining
Reporter.)
In the account of the recent earth
quake at Socorro, New Mexico, it Is
stated that the town is ten miles from
the crater of an ancient vocano which,
although not known to have been In
eruption for the past hundred years.
shows evidence of comparatively re-
cent lava flows. 1t is implied that the
earthquakes have some relation to
this volcano.
Earthquakes may be connected with
direct volcanic activity or they may
have no such relation, like the recent
one of San Francisco, which has been
shown to be due to the slipping OF the
earth's crust along the line of an ex-
tended fault fissure. Assuming that
the earthquake Mt Socorro may have
some relation to the volcano IN Its vi
cinity, 1t will be interesting to trace
the line of volcanic vents OF compar-
atively recent character along tho
fanks of our Rocky mountains in Col
orado and adjacent southern states.
There is volcanic line at intervals
from Wyoming to Texas, running par
allel with the eastern foothills of the
Rockies. There are also other lines OF
volcanic eruption more within the
heart of the mountains.
That along the eastern foothills and
prairie region is characterized by
dikes, volcanic buttes, "necks" or
plugs Of volcanic craters. basaltic lava
flows and relics of extinct craters.
Beginning with northern Colorado,
the eruptive line commences near
Boulder with the Valmont dixie filling
n fissure In Cretaceous sandstones- q
few miles south of this is the Rallston
dixie, also filling a fissure from which
were erupted the lava flows Gaping
the twin table mountains at Golden.
South again some twenty-five miles
are the buttes and table lands of the
Divide country between Denver and
Colorado Springs, capped with rhyolite
lava, the source of which is unknown
South OF the Arkansas river volcanic
activity is resumed In the Huerfano re-
gion with the noted Spanish peaks as
a center.
From these twin mountains radiate
innumerable dikes OF lava in all direc-
tions and for miles over the country.
to Trinidad, where the Ration noun
tains on the border between Colorado
and New Mexico form prominent land
marks Of basaltic lava-capped hills.
Continuing on into New Mexico the
line of volcanicity Is continuous and ev-
licences OF 1t can be seen on either side
of the Santa Fe or Fort Worth railroad
tracks. One of the most noted ex-
amples is the large and perfect crater
of Mount Capulin on the border OF the
Maxwell grant and close to the line ot
the Fort Worth railway. The Cerril-
los range is highly volcanic, and
within sight of Albuquerque are the re-
mains of a volcanic crater from which
has issued recent-loolSing lava flows.
Across the Rio Grande river on the
west. between Albuquerque and La
guna, the train passes by the river by
the side OF ropy coils Of lava filling the
modern arroyas and sufficiently recent
to be as yet unclothed by scanty vege-
tation. The San Francisco mountains
between New Mexico and Arizona are
volcanic, and San Francisco peak Is
said to contain volcanic crater.
Continuing south toward Texas, as
we near Socorro the prairie on either
side Of the railroad track is covered
with rugged. black cindery-looking
lava or, "malapai." which doubtless
lOWeu from Int NOiCdHO III QucbtiOH-
Should the Socorro volcano show
any true symptoms OF activity there is
no reason why some OF the others we
have noted along this southern route
should not at some time else be heard
from In Colorado itself we have few
existing craters, the most perfect and
probably the most recent, IL that near
Dctsern between 'ee'' -
wood Springs, on the Rio Grandc rail-
way.
This was doubtless in eruption within
the human period. as its flows OF
rough, slag-like lava covers the mod
ern river meadow and was congeaIed
and checked by the water OF the mod
ern stream.
Relics of crater of older date than
that at Dotsero are seen few miles
east of Salida. Trappers lake, in
Garfield county. is said to occupy the
| throat OF a crater. and doubtless in
our remote and little-frequented re-
gions volcanic cones and craters may
here and ther be met with.
Most Of the recent-looking craters in
the state are more or less remote from
| any thickly-populated settlement or
| city, and would do little damage II
| they were again to erupt.