Shiprock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shiprock |
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Shiprock
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,177 ft (2,188 m) |
| Prominence | 1,583 ft (482 m) |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 27 million years |
| Mountain type | Volcanic breccia and minette |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1939 by David Brower, Raffi Bedayn, Bestor Robinson and John Dyer |
Shiprock is a famous rock formation in the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is what is left of an extinct volcano. Imagine a volcano that stopped erupting a very long time ago!
This amazing rock is made of broken volcanic rock called breccia. It also has dark lines of igneous rock called dikes. Shiprock is actually the "throat" or core of an old volcano. The rock we see today was once deep underground, about 2,500 to 3,000 feet (750 to 1,000 meters) below the surface. Over millions of years, wind and water caused erosion, wearing away the softer rock around it. This left the harder volcanic core standing tall.
Scientists used a method called Radiometric dating to study the rocks. They found that the volcanic rocks became solid about 27 million years ago. Shiprock is part of a larger area called the Navajo Volcanic Field. Another well-known rock in this area is El Capitan in Monument Valley.
Contents
What is Shiprock?
Shiprock is a tall, dark rock that looks like a ship. It rises sharply from the flat desert floor. It is a very important landmark for the Navajo Nation. They call it "Tsé Bitʼaʼí," which means "rock with wings" or "winged rock." This name comes from a Navajo legend about a giant bird that brought the Navajo people to this land.
How tall is Shiprock?
Shiprock stands about 7,177 feet (2,187 meters) above sea level. It rises about 1,583 feet (482 meters) above the land around it. It is a very impressive sight!
How Shiprock Was Formed
Shiprock is a type of landform called a volcanic plug or volcanic neck. This happens when magma, which is melted rock from deep inside the Earth, hardens inside a volcano's vent. Over millions of years, the outer parts of the volcano, made of softer ash and rock, wear away. The hard core of cooled magma is left behind.
What kind of rocks are in Shiprock?
The main rock in Shiprock is breccia. This rock is made of many broken pieces of other rocks, all cemented together. There are also dark, thin sheets of igneous rock called minette. These sheets are the dikes that spread out from the central core.
Climbing Shiprock
Shiprock is a very challenging climb. It was first climbed in 1939 by a team of climbers. This team included David R. Brower, Raffi Bedayn, Bestor Robinson, and John Dyer.
Why is climbing Shiprock not allowed?
For the Navajo Nation, Shiprock is a sacred place. Because of its spiritual importance and the dangers of climbing, the Navajo Nation made it illegal to climb Shiprock in 1970. This rule helps protect the sacred site and keeps people safe.
Images for kids
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Map of Navajo Volcanic Field with Shiprock
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Aerial view of Shiprock and Shiprock Dike, with the San Juan River behind
