St. Francois Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Francois Mountains |
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A view towards the St. Francois range from Knob Lick Mountain, a granite and rhyolite knob on the edge of the range
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Taum Sauk Mountain |
| Elevation | 1,772 ft (540 m) |
| Geography | |
A relief map of Missouri showing the St. Francois Mountain region (red)
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| Country | United States |
| State | Missouri |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
| Type of rock | igneous |
The St. Francois Mountains are a group of ancient mountains in southeast Missouri. They are part of the Ozark Plateau. These mountains are special because they are made of igneous rock. This type of rock forms when hot, melted rock cools down.
The St. Francois Mountains are some of the oldest igneous rocks found in North America. Their name is officially spelled Saint Francois Mountains. However, some people might spell it St. Francis Mountains because it sounds similar. This is like changing a French word to sound more English.
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What's in a Name?
The name of these mountains comes from the St. Francis River. This river starts right in the St. Francois Mountains. The river's name was originally spelled "François," which is the French way.
It's not totally clear how the river got its name. The area was once part of New France, so many French names are still used. Some people think it was named after Saint Francis of Assisi. He was a famous saint. But no early explorers in this area were part of his group.
Others believe Jacques Marquette, a French explorer, named the river. He explored its mouth in Arkansas in 1673. Before his trip, Marquette had been at a mission named after Francis Xavier. He was another important Jesuit missionary. Over time, the spelling of the river's name changed from "Francois" to "Francis."
How Old Are the St. Francois Mountains?
The St. Francois Mountains are incredibly old! They were formed about 1.485 billion years ago. That's a very long time!
To give you an idea, the Appalachian Mountains started forming around 460 million years ago. The Rocky Mountains are even younger, starting about 140 million years ago. When the Appalachians were just beginning to form, the St. Francois Mountains were already twice as old as the Appalachians are today!
These mountains were created by volcanic activity. This means hot, melted rock from deep inside the Earth came to the surface. Some of this rock erupted as volcanoes. Other rock pushed up into cracks but cooled underground.
The St. Francois Mountains are different from most of the surrounding Ozarks. The Ozarks are mostly made of sedimentary rock. This rock formed from layers of sand and mud over millions of years. The St. Francois Mountains, however, are made of hard, ancient igneous rock.
Scientists believe these ancient mountains might be the only place in the Midwestern United States that was never completely covered by ocean. This is why you won't find marine fossils (like ancient seashells) on them. However, you can find fossilized coral around the edges of the mountains. These corals formed ancient reefs in the seas that once surrounded the mountains.
What Minerals Are Found Here?
The St. Francois Mountains are famous for their rich mineral deposits. This area is known as the "Lead Belt." Many valuable minerals are found here. These include lead, iron, baryte, zinc, silver, manganese, cobalt, and nickel.
People have been mining lead here for a very long time. The Mine La Motte area, near Fredericktown, had French miners working there as early as 1720. Today, this region produces most of the lead in the United States.
Granite is another important resource from this area. It has been quarried (mined from the ground) since 1869. You can see huge granite boulders at Elephant Rocks State Park. The red granite from here has been used in buildings in St. Louis and other cities. It's also used for things like monument stones.
One interesting rock feature in this area is at Hughes Mountain. It has something called columnar jointing. This is when rock cools and cracks into tall, column-like shapes. It's the same process that formed famous places like Devils Tower in Wyoming. At Hughes Mountain, this feature is called the "Devil's Honeycomb."
What Are the Highest Peaks?
The St. Francois Mountains have several notable peaks. These include Taum Sauk Mountain, Bell Mountain, Buford Mountain, Proffit Mountain, Pilot Knob, and Hughes Mountain.
The mountains here range in height from about 500 feet to 1,772 feet. Taum Sauk Mountain is the tallest peak in the range. It is also the highest point in the entire state of Missouri, standing at 1,772 feet (540 meters).
Clark's Mountain, in the southern part of the range, is also interesting. It rises about 900 feet from the land around it in less than 2 miles. Black Mountain, in Madison County, has the biggest climb from its base. It rises almost 1,000 feet from the St. Francis River to its top.
Fun Things to Do
There are many fun things to do in the St. Francois Mountains! Five Missouri state parks are located here:
These parks and other public lands offer lots of outdoor activities. You can go hiking, backpacking, hunting, and fishing. You can also go canoeing and boating on the rivers. The Mark Twain National Forest also has public areas to explore.
A part of the Ozark Trail goes through these mountains. A popular section crosses Taum Sauk and Proffit mountains, offering great views.
The St. Francis River is a popular spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking in the spring. When the water levels are high, it becomes a challenging and exciting river. It has even hosted the Missouri Whitewater Championships every year since 1968!
Images for kids
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A view towards the St. Francois range from Knob Lick Mountain, a granite and rhyolite knob on the edge of the range
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A relief map of Missouri showing the St. Francois Mountain region (red)
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Detail map of the St. Francois Mountain region
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Geologic map of the St. Francois Mountain region
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Elephant Rocks State Park
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Granite from this region was used for cobblestones on the St. Louis wharf and in the piers of the Eads Bridge (background).
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Taum Sauk Mountain is the highest point in Missouri.
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Ozark Trail on Goggins Mountain in Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park
