Mount Elden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Elden |
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Mount Elden
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 9,301 ft (2,835 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,219 ft (372 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Elden
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Flagstaff East |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | lava dome |
| Volcanic field | San Francisco volcanic field |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | road |
Mount Elden or Elden Mountain (in Hopi: Hovi'itstuyqa) is a mountain in central Coconino County, Arizona. It is located northeast of the city of Flagstaff. The mountain gets its name from John Elden, one of the first settlers in the area. He and his family started a farm on the lower parts of the mountain in the late 1800s. They also grazed sheep on the open fields below.
Mount Elden's rocky slopes are easy to see from almost anywhere in Flagstaff. The mountain rises steeply about 2,400 feet (730 m) to a total height of 9,301 feet (2,835 m). In 1977, a fire called the Radio Fire burned about 4,600 acres (1,900 ha) of plants on the mountain's southern and southeastern sides. This fire was started by people.
Even though Mount Elden looks rugged and steep, it is easy to visit. It has many roads and trails that are part of the Coconino National Forest. These trails are great for hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities.
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How Mount Elden Formed: Geology Basics
Mount Elden is one of five large volcanic features around the main San Francisco Peaks volcanic system. This system is part of the larger San Francisco volcanic field. Other nearby features include the Dry Lake Hills and O'Leary Peak. Because these mountains are close to the big San Francisco Mountain, they are likely connected to it.
What is a Lava Dome?
Mount Elden is mainly a type of volcano called a lava dome. It is made almost entirely of dacitic lava flows. This lava came out of several openings or vents. Dacite lava is very thick and sticky. It doesn't flow easily like runny lava. Instead, it piles up around the vent, forming a dome shape.
How Mount Elden Was Built
Geologists believe that Mount Elden formed quickly, possibly in just a few months. The lava came out from cracks in the ground, not in big explosions. Because the dacite lava was so thick, it built up in layers. Younger lava flows partly covered older ones. These overlapping flows often look like rounded shapes or "lobes." You can see different features on them, like steps, tall spires, and cracks.
Unique Rock Blocks
In the middle of Mount Elden, on its eastern and northwestern sides, there are two blocks of sedimentary rock. These rocks are different from the dacite that makes up most of the mountain. Scientists think these blocks were pushed up when thick dacite magma moved into the ground beneath them. This magma lifted the layers of rock, causing them to tilt away from the mountain. These sedimentary blocks make Mount Elden special, as the rest of the mountain is made of the same type of volcanic rock.
