Misplaced Pages

Toroweap Fault

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.

The Toroweap Fault of northwest Arizona and southwest Utah is part of a fault system of the west Grand Canyon region, Arizona, US ; also the west perimeter regions of the Coconino and Colorado Plateaus . The Hurricane Fault originates at the Toroweap Fault, in the region of the Colorado River , and strikes as the westerly depression of the Toroweap Fault. The Toroweap strikes northerly from the Colorado at the east of Toroweap Valley, and enters south Utah; from the Colorado River, the Hurricane Fault strikes north-northwest along the west flank of the small, regional Uinkaret Mountains , the west border of Toroweap Valley. The Hurricane Fault, and the Hurricane Cliffs strike into southwest Utah as part of the west, and southwest perimeter of the Colorado Plateau . The Hurricane Cliffs are made of Kaibab Limestone , an erosion resistant, cliff-forming rock unit.

#267732

27-460: The Uinkaret volcanic field is a resultant of the two-fault system, at the intersection region. Two example landforms, Vulcan's Throne , and Lava Falls both occur west of Toroweap Point, North Rim Grand Canyon, along the faults. A small volcano even occurs above the fault on the South Rim. The 2-fault system is part of the west perimeter regions of the west, and southwest Colorado Plateau , called

54-660: A cosmogenic helium age of 1300 +/- 500 years BP. Pottery shards dated to between 1050 and 1200  CE were found within the lava flow, produced around the same time as the Sunset Crater eruption in the San Francisco volcanic field on the South Rim . Hualapai Mountains The Hualapai Mountains are a mountain range located in Mohave County , east of Kingman , Arizona . Rising up to 8,417 feet at its highest peak,

81-543: A sea of tall evergreens . (8,013 feet / 2,442 meters) is the northern-most of the notable peaks in this range, and is named after the Dean Mine and its discoverer William Dean. who discovered rich gold and silver- sulfide ore there. (7,601 feet / 2,317 meters) is located in the southern portion of the range, and is in the boundary of the Wabayuma Peak Wilderness Area , consisting of 40,000 acres managed by

108-455: A volunteer fire department, and some privately owned cabins for rent may be found here. Accessed from Flag Mine Road, Wild Cow Springs Campground is located on Antelope Wash Road (fire evacuation route). The campground is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, and is a paid site with outhouses and a few bear-proof trashcans, but it is recommended to pack out your garbage if possible. This site

135-568: Is "at all water levels, the most severe rapid in Grand Canyon." The Colorado River was dammed by lava flows multiple times from 725,000 to 100,000 years ago. While some believe that these lava dams were stable, lasting up to 20,000 years and forming large reservoirs, others think they failed quickly and catastrophically as massive floods. Lava flows traveled downriver 76 miles (121 km) from river mile 178 to 254. One lava flow, from Little Springs, south of Pliocene Mount Trumbull , has

162-629: Is an area of monogenetic volcanoes in northwestern Arizona , United States , located on the north rim of the Grand Canyon . Lava flows from the Uinkaret volcanic field that have cascaded down into the Grand Canyon, damming the Colorado River , have been used to date the canyon's carving. One of these cascades is today's Lava Falls . Lava Falls Rapid , below Lava Falls on the Colorado River,

189-618: Is attached to the Seventyfour Plains, southwest, a water divide between the Verde River watershed (Big Chino Wash), east, southeast, and west, tributaries to the Bill Williams River into the Colorado River. Four small surrounding mountain ranges border Seventyfour Plains–Aubrey Valley. The northwest mountains to Aubrey Valley (Blue Mountain) connect to the mountains surrounding Prospect Valley , with Prospect Valley's east border,

216-761: Is dominated by short, woody shrubs, especially on south-facing mountain slopes, and areas which are recovering from wildfires. This plant community makes up the buffer between the harsh desert below and the fragile forest-environments above. May include the following plant varieties/species: 4,500–7,500 feet (1,400–2,300 m) Pinyon-juniper woodlands are nurse plants of ecological facilitation between chapparel scrubland and forested environments at higher elevations. Juniper tends to be more predominant at lower elevations, while Piñon Pine grow more vigorously at slightly higher elevations. Other flora varieties of this plant community may include: 5000+ feet Tall pines and thick stands of broad-leaved trees constitute

243-654: Is located in the central portion of the Basin and Range Province of the southwestern United States, and along the western-most extension of the Arizona Transition Zone (or "Central Highlands" of Arizona). The most notable peaks in the Hualapai Mountain Range include: (8,417 feet / 2,566 meters) is the highest peak in the range, as well as the highest point in Mohave County. (8,390 feet / 2,560 meters)

270-545: Is not available to the public, however, it is viewable from a number of high points surrounding the valley, namely along Flag Mine Road, as well as Ponderosa Drive, the public access route to the county "Fuels Management" area (community burn-pile). The community has approximately 140 homes and is a little over 6,000 ft (1,800 m) in elevation. Some basic amenities, including the Hualapai Mountain Resort (general store, hotel, restaurant, bar, and event center),

297-713: Is technically accessible with a 5th wheel or class A motorhome, but comes with its own risks. Contact the Bureau of Land Management Kingman Field Office for road conditions if in doubt. From the Pine Lake Community there are a number of dirt roads that lead out into the mountains. There are two main routes in and out of the community, via the Hualapai Mountain Road, and Flag Mine Road (Arizona Peace Trail). Other ATV routes exist, but are not recommended for general through-way travel, or low clearance vehicles. From Flag Mine Road one can access many different routes along

SECTION 10

#1732852609268

324-566: Is the gateway to the high point of Mohave County; Hualapai Peak at 8,417 feet (2,566 m). Hualapai Peak is located south of the Mohave County Park boundary on Bureau of Land Management land. The park has cabins, recreation areas, dry camping campsites, and hook-up spots for recreational vehicles , and is generally open year-round for camping and recreation. There are signs telling the history, varieties of vegetation, local and migratory birds, and other wildlife which can be spotted around

351-479: Is the second highest peak in the range, and is the site of a communications tower, which is gated and is not accessible to the public. (8,167 feet / 2,489 meters) is among the most visited of the 8,000-foot peaks in the range, and is located within the Hualapai Mountain County Park . Small stands of quaking aspen grow near its summit, giving the upper portion of the mountain an autumn display amidst

378-712: The High Plateaus Section . In the Grand Canyon, the Toroweap-Hurricane Fault causes a change of surface rock expression in the canyon's west, on the South Rim. The Esplanade Sandstone an erosion resistant member of the Supai Group creates a platform called The Esplanade . The landform is upstream on the Colorado River, South Rim, across from Toroweap Point, and the Toroweap Fault and Aubrey Cliffs are The Esplanade's west perimeter. The Aubrey Cliffs are

405-769: The "Ridge Road" (a piece of the Arizona Peace Trail) of the Hualapai Mountains, which traverses north–south through the various valleys, canyons and washes. There are a number of other routes and trails, including the Moss Wash Basin which is adopted by a local OHV group. At the end of Flag Mine Road is the Boreana Mine, and the route to Yucca. The main fire evacuation route is generally maintained to allow low clearance vehicles, but most other roads and atv trails will require high clearance and/ or four-wheel drive. There

432-755: The Aubrey Cliffs. Prospect Valley is very narrow; the south half is endorheic; the north drains directly into the Colorado River, just west of the Toroweap Overlook. The next regions southeast that form the southwest border of the Colorado Plateau , are Sycamore Canyon -( Sycamore Canyon Wilderness ), and adjacent east, Oak Creek Canyon . The diagonally expressed, northwest-by-southeast regional Arizona transition zone mountain ranges (about 30 across Arizona's 350 miles) are adjacent southwest to Sycamore and Oak Creek Canyons. The three mountain ranges that are at

459-569: The Bureau of Land Management Kingman Field Office. Getz Peak is located directly to the north of the Hualapai County Park Ranger Station, and is the site of multiple communications towers, which are also gated, and not accessible to the public. The Hualapai Mountain range extends into both the Upper and Lower Colorado River Basin watersheds . The Hualapai Mountains contain a dramatic range of plant communities depending on

486-702: The Hualapai Mountain range, including a breed of ground squirrel , and tarantula . The area that is now Hualapai Mountain Park was first developed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and is, today, managed by the Mohave County Parks department. The park encompasses over 2,300 acres (9.3 km ) with elevations ranging from 4,984 feet (1,519 m) to the highest peak within its boundary; Hayden Peak8,390 feet (2,560 m)., and

513-649: The beginnings of the Verde River watershed. The Big Chino Wash of Chino Valley starts a south trend, but immediately turns southeast towards central Arizona. The Aubrey Cliffs are composed of the Permian rocks on top, Kaibab Limestone , Toroweap Formation and Coconino Sandstone ; also the Hermit Formation and Supai Group ; at lower elevations (the Esplanade Sandstone member of The Esplanade, Grand Canyon). In

540-472: The crow flies). This list includes plant species which are native and predominant throughout the environment in and around the Hualapai Mountain foothills: 4,000–5,000 feet (1,200–1,500 m) The most prominent grassland communities in the area are found on the east side of the range, across Big Sandy River Valley up to the foot of the Hualapai Mountains. Dominant species of perennial grass may include: 3,000–5,000 feet (910–1,520 m) A landscape that

567-695: The elevation, slope direction, and microclimate conditions of a given area. −282 feet (−86 m) 3,500 feet (1,100 m) Dominating the landscape surrounding the Hualapai Mountain Sky Island, and at the lowest portion of its foothills, is the Mojave Desert which ranges from altitudes as high as 3,500 feet (1,100 m), and as low as 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park , California. (approximately 175 miles (282 km) away as

SECTION 20

#1732852609268

594-604: The higher elevations of the Hualapai Mountains support Madrean Sky Island habitats, and are host to a plethora of unique flora and fauna in a wide range of microclimates, high above the surrounding Mojave Desert . Pronounced: "wah-lah-pie" Meaning of "Hualapai" in Hualapai language : "People of the tall Pines". English spelling: Walapai Spanish spelling: Hualapai Most used spelling: Hualapai, though both are acceptable Other names for Hualapai Mountain : Mojave language : Amat 'Avii Kahuwaaly The Hualapai Mountain range

621-426: The montane conifer forests in the upper elevations of the Hualapai Mountains. Trees include: Grasses may include: Black bear, elk, mule deer , mountain lion , javelina , and other animals can be found here. Mountain lion and bear have been drawn to civilized areas like Pinion Pines and Atherton Acres due to the large deer population, though bear sightings are very uncommon. There are some animals only native to

648-1005: The northwest terminus of the transition zone, and the south perimeter region of the Sevetyfour Plains–Aubrey Valley, are the Aquarius Mountains -(with Aquarius Cliffs ), Mohon Mountains , and (due-south of Seligman), the Juniper Mountains . The faults at the Aquarius Cliffs are "high angle normal faults", explaining the Aquarius Cliffs—Big Sandy River & Valley— Hualapai Mountains region as: "Colorado Plateau, east; Hualapai Mountains , classic Basin and Range ; and south, 'Highly Extended Terranes', (also Basin and Range, southeast Mojave Desert meeting northwest Sonoran Desert ). Uinkaret volcanic field The Uinkaret volcanic field

675-531: The park. There are over 10 miles (16 km) of hiking trails ranging in difficulty, and an OHV trailhead near the ranger station which leads to a vast network of trails on both the county park and BLM lands. Near the end of Hualapai Mountain Road, just past the Hualapai Mountain Park ranger station, is a community known as Pine Lake . The lake itself, for which the valley gets its name, is privately owned, and

702-593: The south at Aubrey Valley, the Coconino Sandstone is reduced to a thin member, compared to the up to 300 ft cliff maxima at Grand Canyon locales. In Aubrey Valley at the southern region of the Aubrey Cliffs, the Cliffs are also eroded back along the Coconino Plateau; the Toroweap Fault is buried under gravels, towards the valley center, west of the north-trending cliffs. Aubrey Valley is endorheic . The valley

729-493: The west edge of the Coconino Plateau . They extend from the Colorado River south to Prospect Valley , its east perimeter, jump through a mountainous stretch to the north of Aubrey Valley , the cliffs forming its east and southeast border, with the south terminus, Chino Point, just west of Seligman, Arizona , at Interstate 40 . The south terminus of Aubrey Cliffs is also near the beginnings of Chino Valley (Arizona) , part of

#267732