Anthracite Range facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anthracite Range |
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Anthracite Range
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Anthracite Range High Point |
| Elevation | 12,394 ft (3,778 m) |
| Prominence | 2,105 ft (642 m) |
| Geography | |
 Anthracite Range
Location in Colorado
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| Country | United States |
| State | Colorado |
| County | Gunnison |
| Parent range | West Elk Mountains, Rocky Mountains |
The Anthracite Range is a group of mountains in the West Elk Mountains. These are part of the larger Rocky Mountains in North America. You can find this range in Gunnison County, which is in western Colorado. It is also located within the West Elk Wilderness of the Gunnison National Forest. The Anthracite Range is special because it is a type of mountain called a laccolith.
How the Anthracite Range Formed
The Anthracite Range is a "laccolith." This means it formed when hot, melted rock, called magma, pushed its way into layers of softer rock about 30 million years ago. The magma pushed up the rock layers above it, but it didn't break through to the surface.
Over a very long time, wind and water wore away the softer rock on top. This revealed the harder, volcanic rock that makes up the mountains you see today. The range is mostly made of strong, hard rocks like quartz monzonite porphyry and granodiorite porphyry. Huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, also helped shape the Anthracite Range. They carved out bowl-shaped hollows called cirques on the north and east sides of the mountains.
The range gets its name from anthracite coal. This is a very hard and shiny type of coal found in the sedimentary rock layers at the base of these mountains.
Exploring the Summits
The Anthracite Range is a ridge that runs from east to west. It's less than 5 miles (8 kilometers) long. Even though it's not very long, it has several interesting peaks that mountain climbers enjoy.
From west to east, some of these peaks include:
- The Anthracite Range High Point, which is about 12,385 feet (3,775 meters) tall.
- Unnamed Peak 12,300, standing at about 12,300 feet (3,749 meters).
- Ohio Peak, which is about 12,271 feet (3,740 meters) high.
- Unnamed Peak 11,555, reaching about 11,555 feet (3,522 meters).
Most climbers start their journey from Ohio Pass. From there, a special trail leads into the wilderness area. It crosses rocky slopes and then goes up through a cirque. This path leads to the ridge just west of Unnamed Peak 11,555. Once on the ridge, climbers can hike along it to reach the different summits.
Gallery
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Anthracite Range from the southeast
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Ohio Peak, the only officially named summit in the Anthracite Range
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Geologic cross section of the Anthracite Range
