The Lamar register., 1906-08-08
LATE VOLCANOES
THEIR TRACES ~ COLORADO AND
NEW MEXICO.
THE sgCoaKO EAR H}uAKE

COlorauo TioN1 mango Footnlil5-
Near Boulder, Golden, Denver and
Colorado Springs - Dotsero Lava
Ee6s.
(By. Prof. Arthur Lakes in Mining
RepOrlerJ
In the account Of Inc recent earth
quake at Socorro, New Nc xico. it is
stated that tie town is ten miles from
the crater of an ancient yocano which,
although not known TO have been in
eruption for the past hundred years,
shows evidence OF comparatively re
cent lava flows. II is implied that the
earthquakes have some relation to
this volcano.
Earthquakes may be connected with
direct volcanic activity OF 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
earths crust along the line of an eX-
tended fault fissurr Assuming that
the earthquake a SuCurTo may have
some relation to the volcano in its vi
cinity, it will be Interesting to trace
the line of volcanic vents of n compar-
atively recent Character along The
tanks of our Rocly mountains in Col
o1ado and adjacent southern states.
There is a volcanic line at intervals
from Wyoming to TIE" S, running par
ailel 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 CIdters. basaltic lava
flows and relies OF extinct craters.
Beginning with northern Colorado
the eruptive line commences near
Boulder with the Ndlmont dixie filling
a hssure in CretaCt uus sandstones. a
few miles south OF this is the Rallston
dixie, also filling fssurc from which
were eruptcd the lava flows capp;as
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 rhyolils
lava, the source of which is unknown
South of the Arkansas river volcanic
activity is resumed in the Huertano re
gion with the noted Spanish peaks as
a center.
From these twin mountains radiatg
innumerable dikes OF lava in all direc
lions ana 1OT IllI'S ON'fl lllt 'oAAihlF
to Trinidad, where the Ration noun
tains on the border between Colorado
and New Mexico form prominent land
marks of basaltic laya-capped hills.
Continuing on into New Mexico the
line of volcanicity IS continuous and eF
licences OF it can be seen on either side
of the Santa Fe or Fort Worth railroad
tracks. One of the most noted cX
amples is the large and perfect cratel
of Mount Capulin on the border oi the
Maxwell grant and close to the line ol
the Fort Worth railway. The Cerril
los range is highly volcanic, anu
within sight of Albuquerque are the re
mains of volcanic crater from whict
has issued recent-looling lava flows
Across the Rio Grande river on th'
west, between Albuquerque and La
Euna, the train passes by the river BY
the side of ropy coils of lava fillinS th'
modern arroyas and sufficiently receh
to be as yet uncluthed by scanty Nege
tation. The san Francisco mountains
between New Mexico and Arizona are
volcanic, and San Francisco peak Ii
said to contain a volcanic crater.
Continuing south toward Texas. a'
we near SocoriO the prairie on eithcl
side of the railroad track is covered
with rugged. black cindery-lookinl
lava or 'malapaL' which doubtless
flowed from the Volcano in question.
Should the Socorro volcano show
any true symptoms of activity there /!
no reason why some of the others We
have noted along this southern route
should not at some time else be heaft
from. In Colorado itself we have few
existing craters, the most perfect anI
probably the mos recent. IS that neal
DCtsern hrtweru ca''-'''- ""' 'A'-7
wood Springs, on the Rio Grande RAJ;
way
This was doubtless in eruption witai'
the human period as its flows o.
rough. slag-lile lava covers the mod
ern river meadow and was congealet
and checked by the water of the mod
ern stream.
Relics of a 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 receut-looking craters in
the state are more Or less remote from
any thickly settlement on
city. and would do little damage II
they were again to erupt.