| Little Bear Peak |
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Geology (Little Bear Peak)Title: Geology of Little Bear Peak Entered by: rockdoc53 Added: 10/19/2010, Last Updated: 10/19/2010 Sources: Johnson, B.R. and Bruce, R.M., 1991, Reconnaissance geologic map of parts of the Twin Peaks and Blanca Peak Quadrangles, Alamosa, Costilla, and Huerfano counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2169 Blanca, Ellingwood and Little Bear peaks are part of a granitic batholith formed over 1.7 billion years ago (Early Proterozoic). Little Bear Peak is composed predominantly of metagabbro. Metagabbro is a dark gray to very dark green, metamorphosed igneous rock of gabbroic composition, typically with phenocrysts of hornblende and plagioclase. A number of Miocene-Oligocene felsic dikes intrude the metagabbro on the western ridge. A glacier formed the U-shaped valley and a series of tarns, Lake Como, Blue Lakes and Crater Lake, that reside in the valley west of the Blanca-Ellingwood cirque. Similarly, a glacier formed the U-shaped valley and Little Bear Lake, west of the Little Bear Peak. |
Geology (Little Bear Peak)Title: Rock Types Entered by: shredthegnar10 Added: 6/1/2010, Last Updated: 6/1/2010 Igneous intrusives: granite (lighter-colored rocks), diorite (darker-colored rocks seen on the ridge) Age: Tertiary |
Name History (Little Bear Peak)Title: Naming of Little Bear Peak Entered by: 14erFred Added: 5/14/2010, Last Updated: 5/14/2010 Sources: Hart, J.L.J. (1977). Fourteen thousand feet: A history of the naming and early ascents of the high Colorado peaks (Second Edition). Denver, CO: The Colorado Mountain Club. Until 1916, Little Bear was known as "West Peak," because of its location just west of Blanca Peak. The mountain's official name was taken from a creek and lake on its west slopes. |
