Beartooth Area, Montana and Wyoming

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Beartooth Area, Montana and Wyoming STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS PRIMITIVE AREAS BEARTOOTH AREA, MONTANA AND WYOMING GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1391-F Mineral Resources of the Bear tooth Primitive Area and vicinity, Carbon, Park, Still water, and Sweet Grass Counties, Montana, and Park County, Wyoming. By FRANK S. SIMONS and THEODORE J. ARMBRUSTMACHER, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY and by RONALD M. VAN NOY, NICHOLAS T. ZILKA, FRANK E. FEDERSPIEL, and JAMES RIDENOUR, U.S. BUREAU OF MINES With a section on INTERPRETATION OF AEROMAGNETIC DATA By LENNART A. ANDERSON, U.S.GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS PRIMITIVE AREAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1391-F An evaluation of the mineral potential of the area UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1979 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR CECIL D. ANDRUS, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY H. William Menard, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Main entry under title: Mineral resources of the Beartooth Primitive Area and vicinity, Carbon, Park, Stillwater, and Sweet Grass Counties, Montana, and Park County, Wyoming. (Studies related to wilderness primitive areas) (Geological Survey Bulletin 1391-F) Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.3:1391-F Bibliography: p. 114 1. Mines and mineral resources Montana. 2. Mines and mineral resources Wyoming Park Co. I. Simons, Frank Stanton, 1917- II. Series. HI. Series: United States Geological Survey Bulletin 1391-F QE75.B9 no. 1391-F [TN24.M9] 55?!3'08s [553'.09786'6] 76-608390 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 Stock No. 024-001-03138-8 STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS PRIMITIVE AREAS In accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and the Conference Report on Senate bill 4, 88th Congress, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines are making mineral surveys of wilderness and primitive areas. Areas officially designated as "wilderness," "wild," or "canoe" when the act was passed were incorporated into the National Wilderness Preservation System. Areas classed as "primitive" were not included in the Wilderness System, but the act provides that each primitive area be studied for its suitability for incorporation into the Wilderness System. The mineral surveys constitute one aspect of the suitability studies. This report discusses the results of a mineral survey of the Beartooth Primitive Area and vicinity, Carbon, Park, Stillwater, and Sweet Grass Counties, Mont., and Park County, Wyo., that may come under discussion when the area is considered for wilderness designation. CONTENTS Page Summary..................................................................................................................... Fl Introduction................................................................................................................. 3 Previous investigations................................................................................................. 11 Present investigation and acknowledgments................................................................ 12 Geology and mineral resources, by Frank S. Simons and Theodore J. Armbrustmacher........................................................................... 15 Geology................................................................................................................ 15 Precambrian W rocks.................................................................................... 15 Granitic gneiss........................................................................................ 15 Amphibolite and hornblende gneiss....................................................... 24 Biotite schist........................................................................................... 25 Siliceous metasedimentary rocks............................................................ 27 Feldspathized gneiss............................................................................... 27 Ultramafic rocks..................................................................................... 29 Hornfels................................................................................................. 29 Stillwater Complex................................................................................. 30 Quartz monzonite................................................................................... 31 Precambrian W, X, Y, and Z........................................................................ 31 Mafic dikes............................................................................................. 31 Paleozoic rocks.............................................................................................. 34 Mesozoic rocks.............................................................................................. 34 Tertiary rocks................................................................................................ 35 Intrusive rocks........................................................................................ 35 Volcanic rocks........................................................................................ 36 Quaternary deposits....................................................................................... 37 Glacial deposits...................................................................................... 37 Morainal deposits........................................................................... 37 Glacial till....................................................................................... 38 Rock glaciers.......................................................................................... 39 Talus...................................................................................................... 39 Alluvium................................................................................................ 39 Landslide deposits.................................................................................. 39 Felsenmeer............................................................................................. 40 Structure........................................................................................................ 40 Interpretation of aeromagnetic data by Lennart A. Anderson..................... 43 Mineral resources................................................................................................ 47 History and production................................................................................ 47 Sampling and analytical program................................................................. 49 Results of stream-sediment sampling............................................................ 51 Results of rock sampling.............................................................................. 65 Sampling of mineralized or altered rocks.............................................. 72 Sampling of apparently typical unaltered rocks.................................... 73 Summary of sampling results................................................................ 81 Nonmetallic or industrial minerals and materials......................................... 83 Petroleum and natural gas ........................................................................... 83 Coal.............................................................................................................. 84 Geothermal energy....................................................................................... 84 VI CONTENTS Economic appraisal, by Ronald M, Van Noy, Nicholas T. Zilka, Frank E. Feder- Pa8« spiel, and James Ridenour.............................................................................. F84 Setting................................................................................................................... 84 Commodities.......................................................................................................... 85 Goose Lake area............................................................................................. 86 Copper King claim ................................................................................. 98 Copper Glance claim .............................................................................. 99 Red Lodge mining district.............................................................................. 100 Hellroaring group.................................................................................... 102 Little Nell group..................................................................................... 108 Four Chromes group............................................................................... Ill Edsel claim... Ill Stillwater district. 111 Conclusions........................ 113 References cited................. 114 Index................................ 121 ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Generalized geologic and total intensity aeromagnetic map of the Beartooth Primitive Area and vicinity, Montana and Wyoming .................................................................................................. In pocket 2. Sample locality map of the Beartooth Primitive Area and vicinity, Montana and Wyoming............................................................. In pocket FIGURE 1. Index map of Montana and parts of Wyoming and Idaho, showing location of Beartooth study area........................................................ F3 2. Index map of the Beartooth study area and vicinity, showing principal drainages and other topographic
Recommended publications
  • Custer Gallatin National Forest Beartooth Ranger District Information Packet
    CUSTER GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST BEARTOOTH RANGER DISTRICT INFORMATION PACKET www.fs.usda.gov/custergallatin Did You Know? • The highest 41 peaks in Montana are in the Beartooth Mountains. 22 of these are over 12,000ft. • Granite Peak is Montana’s highest peak, at 12,799ft. It is known for its remoteness and extreme weather. • The Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness is the 6th largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states. • There are over 300 lakes and 10 major sub-alpine tundra plateaus in the Beartooths, with even more lakes across the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. • At 3.96 billion years old, rock samples from the Beartooths are some of the oldest rocks on Earth. • The Beartooth Highway reaches an altitude of 10, 947 ft. and is often considered one of the most beautiful roads in America. 406-446-2103 ∙ 6811 Hwy 212, Red Lodge, MT 59068 You are camping in bear country. Wilderness Restrictions and Regulations The Beartooth Ranger District has an area of 587,000 acres. Of this, 345,000 acres are within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The boundary of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness continues west into the Gallatin National Forest (in all, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is 943,626 acres). General Use 15 people is the maximum group size 16 days at a camp site is the maximum camp stay limit No camping/campfires within 200 feet of a lake No camping/campfires within 100 feet of flowing water No use/possession of motorized vehicles, motorboats, chainsaws and other mechanized equipment Bicycles, wagons, carts, hang gliders or other mechanized equipment cannot be possessed or used Dispose of human waste properly.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Map of the Red Lodge Area, Carbon
    GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE RED LODGE AREA, CARBON COUNTY, MONTANA by David A. Lopez Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report MBMG 524 2005 This map has been reviewed for conformity with technical and editorial standards of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. Partial support has been provided by the STATEMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program of the U.S. Geological Survey under Contract Number 04HQAG0079. Kalispell MONTANA 15 Great Falls 90 Missoula Helena 94 Butte Billings Bozeman 90 90 15 110° 109° Big Timber YELLOWSTONE CO 94 Y Billings r 90 e r e l SWEET GRASS CO v l owsto e i n v R e Riv i r e 90 R e r ld u ne o to B ws STILLWATER CO lo Columbus el Y 45°30' e 78 n o r t ive 212 s R w r o te l a l w e ll Y ti S e h CARBON CO t BIG HORN CO f o Luther k STUDY r o Red Lodge 72 F AREA s rk la C 310 N PARK CO 212 45° 10 0 10 20 Miles Figure 1. Location map of the study area. 1 2 DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS SURFICIAL DEPOSITS af Artificial fill—Mine tailings and fill in the Rock Creek valley in northern part of the town of Red Lodge. Qal Alluvium (Holocene)—Gravel, sand, silt, and clay along active stream channels. Qc Colluvium (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Locally derived slope-wash depositsmainly of sand, silt, and clay. Typically thin veneer concealing bedrock, but locally as thick as 30 ft (9 m).
    [Show full text]
  • Yellowstone National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Scoping
    Geologic Resource Evaluation Scoping Summary Yellowstone National Park This document summarizes the results of a geologic resource evaluation scoping session that was held at Yellowstone National Park on May 16–17, 2005. The NPS Geologic Resources Division (GRD) organized this scoping session in order to view and discuss the park’s geologic resources, address the status of geologic maps and digitizing, and assess resource management issues and needs. In addition to GRD staff, participants included park staff and cooperators from the U.S. Geological Survey and Colorado State University (table 1). Table 1. Participants of Yellowstone’s GRE Scoping Session Name Affiliation Phone E-Mail Bob Volcanologist, USGS–Menlo Park 650-329-5201 [email protected] Christiansen Geologist/GRE Program GIS Lead, NPS Tim Connors 303-969-2093 [email protected] Geologic Resources Division Data Stewardship Coordinator, Greater Rob Daley 406-994-4124 [email protected] Yellowstone Network Supervisory Geologist, Yellowstone Hank Heasler 307-344-2441 [email protected] National Park Geologist, NPS Geologic Resources Bruce Heise 303-969-2017 [email protected] Division Cheryl Geologist, Yellowstone National Park 307-344-2208 [email protected] Jaworowski Katie Geologist/Senior Research Associate, 970-586-7243 [email protected] KellerLynn Colorado State University Branch Chief, NPS Geologic Resources Carol McCoy 303-969-2096 [email protected] Division Ken Pierce Surficial Geologist, USGS–Bozeman 406-994-5085 [email protected] Supervisory GIS Specialist, Yellowstone Anne Rodman 307-344-7381 [email protected] National Park Shannon GIS Specialist, Yellowstone National Park 307-344-7381 [email protected] Savage Monday, May 16, involved a welcome to Yellowstone National Park and an introduction to the Geologic Resource Evaluation (GRE) Program, including status of reports and digital maps.
    [Show full text]
  • Wilderness Study Areas
    I ___- .-ll..l .“..l..““l.--..- I. _.^.___” _^.__.._._ - ._____.-.-.. ------ FEDERAL LAND M.ANAGEMENT Status and Uses of Wilderness Study Areas I 150156 RESTRICTED--Not to be released outside the General Accounting Wice unless specifically approved by the Office of Congressional Relations. ssBO4’8 RELEASED ---- ---. - (;Ao/li:( ‘I:I)-!L~-l~~lL - United States General Accounting OfTice GAO Washington, D.C. 20548 Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division B-262989 September 23,1993 The Honorable Bruce F. Vento Chairman, Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Committee on Natural Resources House of Representatives Dear Mr. Chairman: Concerned about alleged degradation of areas being considered for possible inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System (wilderness study areas), you requested that we provide you with information on the types and effects of activities in these study areas. As agreed with your office, we gathered information on areas managed by two agencies: the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLN) and the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. Specifically, this report provides information on (1) legislative guidance and the agency policies governing wilderness study area management, (2) the various activities and uses occurring in the agencies’ study areas, (3) the ways these activities and uses affect the areas, and (4) agency actions to monitor and restrict these uses and to repair damage resulting from them. Appendixes I and II provide data on the number, acreage, and locations of wilderness study areas managed by BLM and the Forest Service, as well as data on the types of uses occurring in the areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Native Fish Conservation
    Yellowstone SScience Native Fish Conservation @ JOSH UDESEN Native Trout on the Rise he waters of Yellowstone National Park are among the most pristine on Earth. Here at the headwaters of the Missouri and Snake rivers, the park’s incredibly productive streams and lakes support an abundance of fish. Following the last Tglacial period 8,000-10,000 years ago, 12 species/subspecies of fish recolonized the park. These fish, including the iconic cutthroat trout, adapted and evolved to become specialists in the Yellowstone environment, underpinning a natural food web that includes magnificent animals: ospreys, bald eagles, river otters, black bears, and grizzly bears all feed upon cutthroat trout. When the park was established in 1872, early naturalists noted that about half of the waters were fishless, mostly because of waterfalls which precluded upstream movement of recolonizing fishes. Later, during a period of increasing popularity of the Yellowstone sport fishery, the newly established U.S. Fish Commission began to extensively stock the park’s waters with non-natives, including brown, brook, rainbow, and lake trout. Done more than a century ago as an attempt to increase an- gling opportunities, these actions had unintended consequences. Non-native fish caused serious negative impacts on native fish populations in some watersheds, and altered the parks natural ecology, particularly at Yellowstone Lake. It took a great deal of effort over many decades to alter our native fisheries. It will take a great deal more work to restore them. As Aldo Leopold once said, “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic com- munity.
    [Show full text]
  • Mountain Lakes Guide: Absaroka, Beartooth & Crazies
    2021 MOUNTAIN LAKES GUIDE Silver Lake ABSAROKA - BEARTOOTH & CRAZY MOUNTAINS Fellow Angler: This booklet is intended to pass on information collected over many years about the fishery of the Absaroka-Beartooth high country lakes. Since Pat Marcuson began surveying these lakes in 1967, many individuals have hefted a heavy pack and worked the high country for Fish, Wildlife and Parks. They have brought back the raw data and personal observations necessary to formulate management schemes for the 300+ lakes in this area containing fish. While the information presented here is not intended as a guide for hiking/camping or fishing techniques, it should help wilderness users to better plan their trips according to individual preferences and abilities. Fish species present in the Absaroka-Beartooth lakes include Yellowstone cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, golden trout, arctic grayling, and variations of cutthroat/rainbow/golden trout hybrids. These lake fisheries generally fall into two categories: self-sustaining and stocked. Self-sustaining lakes have enough spawning habitat to allow fish to restock themselves year after year. These often contain so many fish that while fishing can be fast, the average fish size will be small. The average size and number of fish present change very little from year to year in most of these lakes. Lakes without spawning potential must be planted regularly to sustain a fishery. Standard stocking in the Beartooths is 50-100 Yellowstone cutthroat trout fingerlings per acre every eight years. Special situations may call for different species, numbers, or frequency of plants. For instance, lakes with heavy fishing pressure tend to be stocked more often and at higher densities.
    [Show full text]
  • Profiles of Colorado Roadless Areas
    PROFILES OF COLORADO ROADLESS AREAS Prepared by the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region July 23, 2008 INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 2 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ARAPAHO-ROOSEVELT NATIONAL FOREST ......................................................................................................10 Bard Creek (23,000 acres) .......................................................................................................................................10 Byers Peak (10,200 acres)........................................................................................................................................12 Cache la Poudre Adjacent Area (3,200 acres)..........................................................................................................13 Cherokee Park (7,600 acres) ....................................................................................................................................14 Comanche Peak Adjacent Areas A - H (45,200 acres).............................................................................................15 Copper Mountain (13,500 acres) .............................................................................................................................19 Crosier Mountain (7,200 acres) ...............................................................................................................................20 Gold Run (6,600 acres) ............................................................................................................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • High Country News Vol. 2.29, Aug. 14, 1970
    Th~ ,;~tdoor,OIJdr EnvironmentalBi - W,•• kl, Vol. %. No. 29 Ftiday, August 14. 1970 'Antelope Under Gun; One -ShotSchedul ed .This year's hunting season 'an outgrowth of the old North in Wyoming will start off with Rawlins-Table Rock area. a bang' on Sept. 5. The state's The season will close in these most popular game animal, areas (57 & 29) on Sept. 13, the pronghorn antelope, will 1970.This year, 950 resident come under fire for the first and non-resident antelope time this year in the Chain permits were made 'available Lakes and Table Rock areas. in these areas. 'These areas appear on the Bill Crump, 'district hunting orders' as' areas 57 supervisor of the Wyoming, and 29 respectively and are Game and Fish Commission, reported tha t the Chain Lakes and Table Rock areas are the best trophy hunting areas in the state. Crump also said Ski Meet Is that the broad, open desert country in this area was very popular for campers. He 'also At Casper noted that many hunters will be going out prior to opening The' Wyoming Open I'n- day with camping vehicles to vitational Water Ski Meet make "a .week of it" by will be hosted by the Casper combining camping and rock Water Ski Club this year. The hunting with their antelope meet will be held Sunday, hunt. SeptemberS, beginning at 8 Along wtth . the annual a m, a t the casper Clu b opening of hunting season quarters at Alcova Lake. comes the One Shot Antelope Registra tion will begin Hunt held here in Lander , Sa turday, Sept.
    [Show full text]
  • Patterns of Terrestrial and Limnologic Development in the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (USA) During the Late-Glacial/Early- Holocene Transition Teresa R
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of 2015 Patterns of Terrestrial and Limnologic Development in the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (USA) during the Late-Glacial/Early- Holocene Transition Teresa R. Krause Montana State University, [email protected] Yanbin Lu University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cathy Whitlock Montana State University, [email protected] Sherilyn C. Fritz University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Kenneth L. Pierce US Geological Survey, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Krause, Teresa R.; Lu, Yanbin; Whitlock, Cathy; Fritz, Sherilyn C.; and Pierce, Kenneth L., "Patterns of Terrestrial and Limnologic Development in the Northern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (USA) during the Late-Glacial/Early-Holocene Transition" (2015). Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. 453. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub/453 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Published in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 422 (2015), pp. 46–56; doi: 10.1016/ j.palaeo.2014.12.018 Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. Used by permission. Submitted March 26, 2014; revised October 31, 2014; accepted December 5, 2014; published online January 22, 2015.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park—Natural and Anthropogenic Anomalies and Their Potential Impact on the Environment
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications of the US Geological Survey US Geological Survey 2007 Environmental Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park—Natural and Anthropogenic Anomalies and Their Potential Impact on the Environment Maurice A. Chaffee U.S. Geological Survey Robert R. Carlson U.S. Geological Survey Harley D. King U.S. Geological Survey Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgspubs Part of the Earth Sciences Commons Chaffee, Maurice A.; Carlson, Robert R.; and King, Harley D., "Environmental Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park—Natural and Anthropogenic Anomalies and Their Potential Impact on the Environment" (2007). Publications of the US Geological Survey. 68. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usgspubs/68 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Geological Survey at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications of the US Geological Survey by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Environmental Geochemistry in Yellowstone National Park—Natural K and Anthropogenic Anomalies and Their Potential Impact on the Environment By Maurice A. Chaffee, Robert R. Carlson, and Harley D. King Chapter K of Integrated Geoscience Studies in the Greater Yellowstone Area— Volcanic, Tectonic, and Hydrothermal Processes in the Yellowstone Geoecosystem Edited by Lisa A. Morgan Professional Paper 1717 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological
    [Show full text]
  • GLACIERS and GLACIATION in GLACIER NATIONAL PARK by J Mines Ii
    Glaciers and Glacial ion in Glacier National Park Price 25 Cents PUBLISHED BY THE GLACIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Cover Surveying Sperry Glacier — - Arthur Johnson of U. S. G. S. N. P. S. Photo by J. W. Corson REPRINTED 1962 7.5 M PRINTED IN U. S. A. THE O'NEIL PRINTERS ^i/TsffKpc, KALISPELL, MONTANA GLACIERS AND GLACIATTON In GLACIER NATIONAL PARK By James L. Dyson MT. OBERLIN CIRQUE AND BIRD WOMAN FALLS SPECIAL BULLETIN NO. 2 GLACIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION. INC. GLACIERS AND GLACIATION IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK By J Mines Ii. Dyson Head, Department of Geology and Geography Lafayette College Member, Research Committee on Glaciers American Geophysical Union* The glaciers of Glacier National Park are only a few of many thousands which occur in mountain ranges scattered throughout the world. Glaciers occur in all latitudes and on every continent except Australia. They are present along the Equator on high volcanic peaks of Africa and in the rugged Andes of South America. Even in New Guinea, which many think of as a steaming, tropical jungle island, a few small glaciers occur on the highest mountains. Almost everyone who has made a trip to a high mountain range has heard the term, "snowline," and many persons have used the word with­ out knowing its real meaning. The true snowline, or "regional snowline" as the geologists call it, is the level above which more snow falls in winter than can he melted or evaporated during the summer. On mountains which rise above the snowline glaciers usually occur.
    [Show full text]
  • Glaciers and Glaciation in Glacier National Park
    Glaciers and Glaciation in Glacier National Park ICE CAVE IN THE NOW NON-EXISTENT BOULDER GLACIER PHOTO 1932) Special Bulletin No. 2 GLACIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION Price ^fc Cents GLACIERS AND GLACIATION In GLACIER NATIONAL PARK By James L. Dyson MT. OBERLIN CIRQUE AND BIRD WOMAN FALLS SPECIAL BULLETIN NO. 2 GLACIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION. INC. In cooperation with NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR PRINTED IN U. S. A. BY GLACIER NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION 1948 Revised 1952 THE O'NEIL PRINTERS- KAUSPELL *rs»JLLAU' GLACIERS AND GLACIATION IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK By James L. Dyson Head, Department of Geology and Geography Lafayette College Member, Research Committee on Glaciers American Geophysical Union* The glaciers of Glacier National Park are only a few of many thousands which occur in mountain ranges scattered throughout the world. Glaciers occur in all latitudes and on every continent except Australia. They are present along the Equator on high volcanic peaks of Africa and in the rugged Andes of South America. Even in New Guinea, which manj- veterans of World War II know as a steaming, tropical jungle island, a few small glaciers occur on the highest mountains. Almost everyone who has made a trip to a high mountain range has heard the term, "snowline,"' and many persons have used the word with­ out knowing its real meaning. The true snowline, or "regional snowline"' as the geologists call it, is the level above which more snow falls in winter than can be melted or evaporated during the summer. On mountains which rise above the snowline glaciers usually occur.
    [Show full text]