page_title: Copper Benchmark
section_title: Geology
hierarchical_section_title: Copper Benchmark / Geology
context_page_description: Copper Benchmark, also known as Copper Point, is a mountain summit located in the Methow Mountains, a sub-range of the North Cascades, on the shared border between Okanogan County and Chelan County in Washington state. Copper Benchmark is situated on the crest of the Cascade Range between Kangaroo Pass and Copper Pass. It was used as a triangulation station for early surveying. It is protected by the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness within the Okanogan National Forest. Copper Benchmark has a subsidiary peak, Pica Peak
context_section_description: The North Cascades feature some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences. 
  The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.  In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
  During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The "U"-shaped cross section of the river valleys are a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.
caption: Copper Benchmark seen from Wallaby Peak
exif: {}