Sandia Mountain Granite

Lambert department of geology university of new mexico albuquerque new mexico 87131 introduction orbicular rocks are igneous metamorphic or migmatic features witf orbicules consisting of a core with one or more concentric shells of.

Sandia mountain granite. Watermelon was given to the mountains for the pinkish colour of their granite peaks although an alternative explanation is that the native peoples of the valley were given that name for their abundant crops of squash the name later being transferred to the mountain range. The incredible color of the mountain range is the presence within its depths of crystals of potassium. In precambrian granite sandia and zuni mountains new mexico k. 17 miles with two distinct high points the higher crest as it is referred to and the lower south.

It is believed that the name sandia spanish. A panoramic view from sandia crest in august centered to the southwest and showing albuquerque in the distance. The sandia granite is prominently exposed along the east flank of the rio grande rift with almost 1 5 kilometres 4 900 feet of exposure at sandia crest it extends from placitas to tijeras canyon its radiometric age is 1453 12 ma. The sandia mountains which are immediately northeast of albuquerque new mexico consist mostly of precambrian granite technically speaking it is a granodiorite quartz monzonite as well as some adjacent metamorphic rocks.

Some of the range consists of sandia granite which has been proven to be over a billion years old. This is what affords it the amazing pink tinge that is visible from a distance find out more about the sandia mountains over at wikipedia. Sandia crest with a wisp of snow viewed from sandia resort casino just north of albuquerque. Boundless opportunities for hikers and rock climbers exist in these mountains.

Potassium feldspar k spar crystals embedded within the sandia granite give the mountains their distinct pink color. Overyling the granite is the madera formation a fossiliferous limestone of pennsylvanian age.