The Geologic Oddity in New Mexico; Tent Rocks National Monument

Within north central New Mexico is a strange geologic oddity. There, layers of primarily white rock seemingly jut out of the ground in abundance to heights of more than 90 feet, forming hundreds of pillars with cliff like edges of them. And, on their tops are a grouping of cone like structures. These features are known as the Tent Rocks, which are part of the Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.
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Graphics of eruption dates are courtesy of the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institute. volcano.si.edu/
Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google
Thumbnail Photo Credit: Bob Wick, BLM California, mypubliclands, Bureau of Land Management, Flickr, CC BY 2.0
0:00 Strange Tent Rocks
0:40 Location of the National Monument
1:06 Geologic Setting
2:27 Tuff & Ash Emplacement
3:03 Pillar Erosion
3:28 Apache Tears & Perlite
Citations:
[1] www.blm.gov/visit/kktr
[2] geoinfo.nmt.edu/, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument
Creative Commons Licenses used for a section of specific content in this video (not the entire video):
CC BY 2.0: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

[@GeologyHub]

Tent Rocks National Monument represents one of many remnants of highly explosive silica rich eruptions within the state of New Mexico. From satellite you can easily spot several large calderas in the state, the most recent of which is the still active Valles Caldera supervolcano.

[@zlm001]

Do you know of any audiobooks (hopefully with linked pictures) or audio tours or virtual tourguide (like mainly audio but with pictures and diagrams to reference) that explain the geology of an area as you're driving through it? My sister majored in geology and aunt and uncle would always read up on a specific area/region/feature before going and I miss getting all the cool and unique facts and features pointed out during the massive road trips to a particular park/hike/site. Made the drives even better and more interesting enjoyable than just spectacular scenery. And much more information than the odd pamphlet. It's just different learning about something as you see it, and there's a lot of time to fill, especially on drives out west (though still plenty to learn on the EC of course). So much stuff I would never have noticed or appreciated on my own, or have enough background in to know what's what, was pointed out to me during long drives with my sister or aunt and uncle. Basically, I guess I'm looking for a way to get solid narrated information to consume and fill the time while driving across the landscape without having to spend days researching ahead of time, and cheaper than hiring a geologist to spend hours and hours in a car on trip. Some parks have guides, even if only occasionally, but there's so much to learn about and see on the long drives to and from parks and trails that just gets overlooked or remains a mystery to busy or less than motivated individuals like myself. pamphlet at less visited parks and trails. Also, do you know of any series of books about the geology of different regions that assumes you have zero earth science background and don't know anything?

[@mbvoelker8448]

I don't know if they cover the area you're interested in, but Nick Zentner frequently recommends the "Roadside Geology" series.

[@Tom-xg1kj]

Great hiking park, very inexpensive to visit. Great views when you hike to the top.

[@JamesSavik]

The Tent Rocks remind me of the Pinnacles near Crater Lake in Oregon. I wonder if their formation had any similarities. If my memory serves (and it might not), the Pinnacles were formed around hot groundwater, creating fumaroles in thick ash. The heat hardened them like a natural ceramic. Might that have been a part of it?

[@lazerman121]

So is this formation older then the Valles Caldera?

[@bevinboulder5039]

I have never heard of these formations before. You always provide such great info. I've been loving your on-location vids from Iceland.

[@quakekatut8641]

Lineaments should really be considered when considering seismicity. It would be cool for you to do a video on these little known geologic boundaries! Thanks

[@fluffbuck3t]

totally agree I never heard lineaments mentioned in my basic courses on geology in school and it feels like something fairly major to leave out

[@zlm001]

You should do a video about Goblin Valley State Park in Utah if the the geology is interesting enough for a short video. When I visited when I was a kid it felt like a jungle gym version of a park made just for me. Don't know why this video made me think of it. Thanks for continuing to put out so many videos.

[@zlm001]

Maybe I was a goblin of a child.

[@StuffandThings_]

There is a vaguely similar formation on Mt Mazama (Crater Lake) called The Pinnacles. They formed from eroded ignimbrite that was made harder in certain areas due to fumarole activity, giving rise to spires of volcanic deposits. Essentially like what Novarupta will become in thousands of years.

[@BluSTi]

Valles Caldera and the surrounding area are very cool to see in person. You should do a segment on the singing or ringing rocks of the northern rim of the caldera!

[@johnmcnulty4425]

We had this place all to ourselves on a beautiful April day a few years ago. A must and not far from Santa Fe!

[@Nickleplate765]

Keep up these vids on unique geological features. The volcano stuff is cool, but this is just fascinating!!

[@fluffbuck3t]

very interesting, also loving the on the ground meradalir coverage lately!!

[@equarg]

Only recently did I learn about New Mexico’s volcanic past…..and potential future. Wow. Land of enchantment indeed.

[@1234j]

Really interesting! Thank you from England.

[@critters16]

Loved presentation 👍👍

[@SpaceLover-he9fj]

These formations are spectacular ! They really do look like tents ! Also, if I remember correctly, there are similar formations in Turkey.

[@Dragrath1]

Well that is another place with a fairly long and continuing history of highly explosive volcanism (high silica stratovolcanoes lava domes and calderas) That volcanism in Turkey is also the main source of obsidian primarily derived from the aforementioned rhyolitic lava domes. Seems safe to suspect similar processes are/were at play.

[@lh3540]

I've hiked there twice. There's a relatively easy sandy slot canyon that goes up to the top of the mesa. It's such a unique park.

[@headlessspaceman5681]

Great video and good job getting the pronunciation of "Jemez" right. This formation seems very similar to the towers at Goreme in Turkey.

[@hestheMaster]

What an excellent explanation of how the spires were created.

[@zlm001]

Do you know of any audiobooks (hopefully with linked pictures) or audio tours or virtual tourguide (like mainly audio but with pictures and diagrams to reference) that explain the geology of an area as you're driving through it? My sister majored in geology and aunt and uncle would always read up on a specific area/region/feature before going and I miss getting all the cool and unique facts and features pointed out during the massive road trips to a particular park/hike/site. Made the drives even better and more interesting enjoyable than just spectacular scenery. And much more information than the odd pamphlet. It's just different learning about something as you see it, and there's a lot of time to fill, especially on drives out west (though still plenty to learn on the EC of course). So much stuff I would never have noticed or appreciated on my own, or have enough background in to know what's what, was pointed out to me during long drives with my sister or aunt and uncle. Basically, I guess I'm looking for a way to get solid narrated information to consume and fill the time while driving across the landscape without having to spend days researching ahead of time, and cheaper than hiring a geologist to spend hours and hours in a car on trip. Some parks have guides, even if only occasionally, but there's so much to learn about and see on the long drives to and from parks and trails that just gets overlooked or remains a mystery to busy or less than motivated individuals like myself. pamphlet at less visited parks and trails. Also, do you know of any series of books about the geology of different regions that assumes you have zero earth science background and don't know anything?

[@nancywysemen7196]

amazing [well, wonderful] information on this channel. hope i retain some of it.thank-you.

[@darrenkokenzie9041]

love all your vids been watching them for a long time now i have just moved to honduras and there are several old volcanos here one on the island of utila and the rest nere the lake yoja but not much info onine for this country could you please do a video on it thanks

[@deepsnows1421]

Can you discuss the difference between these and the fumaroles found in Pinnacle Valley, Crater Lake, Oregon?

[@JustaReadingguy]

Thanks and very interesting. Been there many times.

[@wolphin732]

I think you needed to make a bigger note about not taking things from a park... I constantly need to tell people that when I am out in the national parks myself!

[@petrakhor3513]

Goblin Valley State Park in Utah, or the Huerfano Butte in Colorado are ones that would be neat to hear about. I've always wondered about them!

[@genericalfishtycoon3853]

Thanks for showing me yet another place with amazing aesthetics I'd never heard of. What a cool formation! Well, cool now anyways.

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

Cool that the site of such an ancient subduction would be volcanically active so very long after (1.7Gya!). What is the cause of the rift that crosses it? Is the NA plate thinking about splitting? Thanks for stockpiling these videos to keep your followers well fed during your absence at your excellent adventure in Iceland!

[@JustaReadingguy]

Yea, very interesting question.

[@edwardlulofs444]

I thought Rio Grande was a failed rift. Either way, it's weak area in the crust and prone to all this excitement.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

I think B.A. Erlebacher is referring more to the diagonal line that crosses through the Valle Grande. That line is called a lineament and is a weak point in the earth's crust and thinner than surrounding crust which has allowed magma to extrude upwards leading to eruptions. In the ancient earth about 1.7 billion years ago two continental plates converged at that point. The mountains that were formed at that time have long since eroded away. However the underlying rock layers still show signs in the rock sediments of this former suture point of the two continents. The vertical line indicates the Rio Grande Rift which begins in southern Colorado and continues down to northern Mexico in Chihuahua. This rift is much more recent starting about 30 million years ago. It was very active until maybe a few thousand years ago when it became a passive or failed rift. Much but not all of the mountain building along both sides of the rift are the result of the rift itself such as the Sandia Mtns east of Albuquerque. There is much more very interesting in depth material available from many sources on the rift.

[@edwardlulofs444]

@@michaeldeierhoi4096 Thank you for that detailed information. I copied your text into a file and will re-read it until I have it almost memorized. I'm retired so I hope to visit the area. At my age, I learn slowly. Hence the need to make a file and re-read it. I wonder if only a few thousand years is too soon to declare it dead. I didn't know that about the Valle Grande lineament either. Rocks and mountains become awe inspiring when I think of their history. Thanks again.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

@@edwardlulofs444 I agree that a few thousand years isn't much time to consider the Rio Grande Rift dead, but I don't think we have enough understanding about such geologic phenomena to know for sure. It is true that seismic activity has been fairly quiet for a while too but who really knows!? Personally, I would like nothing better than to see an eruption if it could happen in a place that doesn't threaten people. Like the current Meridalur eruption in Iceland.

[@christopherdrago]

I have just recently found this channel and am greatly enjoying it . One place I'd love to see a video about is the Tsingy de Bemaraha stone forest in Madagascar.

[@GeologyHub]

I plan to cover that beautiful feature do not worry :)

[@mariapark2374]

Very interesting video, this is one place I haven't seen in the US, thank you for your comprehensive coverage!

[@craigmooring2091]

Always interesting; always brief.

[@glitchyentity2117]

I'd love if you covered Jeptha Knob KY, the Middlesboro KY Crater, or Hicks Knob in Illinois. Super interesting volcanic history.

[@dudmic]

Cappadocia in Turkey is well known for these types of structures

[@MelanieCravens]

Was just coming to say this.

[@naturaldisasterguy2687]

Hello! I have a request that you post an activity update on mt st helens, earthquakes have started at a noticeably shallower depth than its predecessor swarm (february-april swarm) and there has been a slight increase within the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. I would appreciate a video on the recent swarm. Thanks!

[@AllTheHappySquirrels]

Have you ever covered the Olympic range in Washington state? I know it's not volcanic, but I'm curious about how each peak formed.

[@jeaniebird999]

Hey, that's my state and I lived in Santa Fe for 5 years and didn't even know about that site!

[@claystroke9969]

Well that was awesome... you always manage to fascinate me with geology! I live right near Death Valley at the southern end of the Owen's Lake and we just had a major mud flood. The geology and volcanic remnants are definitely a sight to see here! I'm curious, are there any volcanoes, aside from Mammoth, that show any activity? I can't help but notice all the old lava flows in my area!

[@edwardlulofs444]

Mono Lake volcanoes have been active recently. I think GeologyHub had a video on this area a couple of months ago.

[@claystroke9969]

@@edwardlulofs444 I'm curious if there's anything going on by Little Lake toward the Cosos... Thanks, I'll look for it! :)

[@cheriestl]

Bravo! I am in France and will soon visit a volcano in Auvergne.

[@RedentSC]

Please do something on Ben Nevis in the UK? Long extinct but I know nothing about it and would love to learn from yourself!

[@citylimits8927]

Attention Sweden-based GeologyHub fans, I'm going to suggest a topic from your country: The Siljan Impact Crater (Siljan Ring). At 52 km. (32.3 mi.), it's the largest impact crater in all of Europe and one of the 15 largest known on earth. I searched the GeologyHub KZbin channel and did not see it. Would this be a good topic for this great channel? It is in the Dalarna Landskap (province) and it is readily recognizable because of its ring of lakes.

[@leroychestnut]

Gracias! please do Sephar (Argel)

[@lrwright8400]

THANK YOU FOR COVERING MY HOME STATE!!

[@lrwright8400]

Please note, you're not allowed to collect rocks as it's also on a Native Reservation. (glad to see the close up of the rock sample) Also the Bandelier Nat'l monument formed in a similar way nearby.

[@andrewpost9335]

Thanks! Awesome channel

[@ianbales3436]

Very pretty!

[@Headytopper125]

@geologyhub can you do a video on lake willoughby in Vermont? It’s pretty interesting

[@jasongood6296]

Would love to see a video about the Wasatch fault in Salt Lake City area

[@marshallsweatherhiking1820]

There are thousands of these formations in and around the towns of Urgup and Goreme in central Turkey. I didn’t know there were also examples in the US.

[@Triairius]

I'd be curious to learn more about the geology of Florida, living here myself! It seems to be largely sand, but I've never really looked up how Florida was formed or the actual geological goings-on.

[@riverAmazonNZ]

Lots of karst (limestone) landscape in Florida. Karst is always interesting.

[@CricketsBay]

I would like to see a video on "the lost volcano of Florida" which I've only seen mentioned briefly in books about the haunted Southeastern U.S.

[@Bob-jm8kl]

There’s a beach on the north end of Little Talbot island northeast of Jacksonville. I think it’s called black rock beach and is what appears to be a shelf of igneous rock. It was a surprise to find.

[@Triairius]

@@Bob-jm8kl I've been! Gorgeous little beach. And you're right- a totally unexpected spot.

[@biblebasher9364]

WHERE WAS MY APACHES TEAR EJECTED FROM? In Northern Cali at the top of our local hills I found an Apache's tear rock and I was blown away by how the obsidian had no sharp edges on it. I began searching for an answer for how a piece of obsidian could be whole without a break or sharp edge. It blew my mind, but I finally learned they form round in the air and cool before hitting the ground, like old lead bullets used to be made. Ever since I was a kid and did a report on the Mexican Volcano Paricutin, I have eagerly searched our local hills and valley's looking for the last volcano and the perhaps then next volcano that could sprout out of nowhere. The tops of our small mountains have dirt that is red and it is soft and then parts are solid rounded rock. In our Little Lake Valley west of Lake Pilsbury the valley floor suddenly has a perfect round hill that someone built there house on. It looks so odd to me and I have seen it since before I could remember. I would sure like to explore the inside of these things. Why would I have found an Apache's Tear rock at the top of Old Boyscout Rd. where I don't see a volcano from millions of years ago? Willits California. Where could this Apache's Tear have been ejected from?

[@icollectstories5702]

If it was loose or buried in dirt, it might have been dropped by a gravel truck, for example. If you chiselled it out of sedimentary rock, it probably slid or washed downstream from its original location before being deposited, buried, and uplifted. Otherwise, I'm outta ideas. I'd say the older it is, the more chances it has to be moved through natural processes.

[@peterjf7723]

Very similar to the rock formations at Cappadocia in Türkiye. The site is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered in Monks Valley, Göreme and elsewhere.

[@georgetirebiter4343]

Been wanting to see that place for a long time.

[@peterjf7723]

@@georgetirebiter4343 Well worth visiting.

[@recon3113]

That’s going on my list of hike’s to do. ✌️

[@josephjones4293]

Wait til november… no shade

[@lh3540]

It's a pretty easy hike in temperate weather. Just check the park website, they were closed most of the pandemic. If I recall it's accessed near one of the reservation communities. If you go in fall you can see the tarantula migration 🤢

[@adventure3214]

Im surprised you didnt mention their similarity to nearly identical rock formations in Turkey. Are they created by the same geological mechanism?

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Jemez hot spring during a snowstorm is a nice place to be. Parking sucks. The rangers come to the parking lot and run people off at night. There's a spot to camp and walk from the ridge and the trees are tied in a thousand ribbons so its hard to get lost.

[@Flame-Bright-Cheer]

Holy moly holy mackerel holy cow I didn't know about this and now I do because of you my awesome volcano man KZbin dude of knowledge and awesome thank you 🙈🤔🤘🕉🖤⚡☀️☝️😉🤓

[@mikeyd946]

Very neat!!!!

[@gamergate2.0andbooks]

Do videos about the closest volcano becoming a supervolcano

[@robertbiolsi9815]

I like your reports🙂

[@StaticBlaster]

I think I may have visited this place. I know for sure I visited the Gilman's Tunnels.

[@headlessspaceman5681]

I think I may have read this comment. I know for sure I have read other comments.

[@Jasonfallen71]

Please tell me there's a band of geologists named "Tuff Shist" Good episode. Can't wait to check out that part of NM for myself

[@scottstewart5784]

Way to go, Hugh!

[@tq353]

There is a place called kapadokya in turkey it has same formations🙏 it can be next topic😍

[@AutoReport1]

Semantic correction, the region was "experiencing" volcanic eruptions, the volcanoes were undergoing the eruptions.

[@secularsunshine9036]

Thanks. *Let the Sunshine In...* .

[@CricketsBay]

I would like to see a video on the Lost Volcano of Florida. Early Spanish explorers wrote about it, then it vanished, possibly when an earthquake struck the area.

[@headlessspaceman5681]

Early Spanish explorers were soldiers and priests who didn't know crap about geology. How do you vanish a volcano? That was only 500 years ago.

[@tomvanheule5505]

great video today! (well, they all are)

[@tombuffumjr1509]

Yes I like this stuff and intreges me. The sweet grass hills in north central Montana why are they there they are out of Rocky Mountains of the US out on the plains and no other volcanic up lift within 100+ miles and or another volcano that has been extinct for a number of years just a thought for you to explore

[@kepckatherinec805]

Looks more like Upside-Down Ice Cream Cone Monument to me!

[@ringhunter1006]

Hello Geology Hub, could you do a video on the Giant Tsunami sand sheets that cover the west coast of both North America and Mexico from an ancient super Tsunami, I believe it to be the largest Tsunami in the last million years !?! and or could you cover the Ancient super Earthquake that struck white sands new Mexico this Earthquake was so big it caused the Old lake to cross over the low points of the San Andres Mountain range a wash over to the other side of the area and flood the Rio Grande Vally it also caused a flash flood that flooded areas as far as 360 miles into what is now Texas from the lake that use to stand north of whites Sands there is little information on either of these great historic events. Thanks.

[@jr.patriotswrestlingclub5768]

is this riff the reason pagosa springs colorado gets its hot springs

[@icollectstories5702]

Are there pozzolana deposits in North America?

[@veraw.1231]

Please comment on the Devil’s Backbone on the northern front range in Colorado. Looks like a gigantic half-buried stegosaurus.

[@8mmfanatic]

Why do you switch systems of measurement?

[@jafetsoto4691]

This is so lit

[@Outrjs]

Nowhere else in the world, but it's natural. Oh my.

[@jeremiasrobinson]

Similar to Wheeler Geologic Area.

[@Neloish]

You should do some videos on cave formation.

[@schuller623]

What are those rounded holes in some of the cones 1:00? Are those biological in origin, wind erosion or something else? And please make more videos about something other than volcanoes.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

That is an interesting observation. I can't say this for sure, but being an avid bird watcher those holes in the peaks might be due to a certain kind of swallow. There is a swallow there called a Violet-green swallow which would use holes like those for nests. Whether they make the holes I am uncertain. Another kind of bird may also make those holes.

[@Dranzerk8908]

So how do we know the watertable was responsible for the violent eruption that caused it? Its my understanding, which could be wrong, is that the watertable is actually a "new" thing for earth. Its also not every area of the earth.

[@kingclan007]

14 millions years ago 😄, ahh I was there watching how it form.

[@davidsmith3623]

Looks like Lothal

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

I used a similar formula to judge wind drift when I floated air biscuits to friends. From the time of release to the time of them running away pinching their nose shut was always interesting when factored into the formula as even the slightest breeze could have devastating effects if misjudged.

[@CarterWHern]

Volcano's in North Georgia .

[@stinkyfungus]

Tent rocks? Nah... A formation that looks this badass needs a badass name. When i become emperor of the world im renaming this formation "dragon's jaw" Way cooler.

[@tuvoca825]

Re-Name. Gnome rocks!

[@moshitupjwz5967]

Capadocia in Turkey

[@Jefuslives]

Lawn gnomes.

[@Nictata]

Those are melted buildings

[@elaibuchanan6319]

melted red brick buildings

[@kellydalstok8900]

They should paint faces on them, because they look like giant gnomes.

[@Karllifebelike]

T

[@JynxSp0ck]

look like gentleman's sausage

[@Wesmancan]

Aliens

[@josephjones4293]

Those are a few counties over

[@donnacsuti4980]

Wouldn't be surprised if the shape was helped along by humans. The ash beds in other places of the west have not been shaped like that.

[@lh3540]

Lol, these things are huge. Each spire is about the size of 4 story building. There is an improved hiking path through them, but the spires are all caused by erosion.

[@michaeldeierhoi4096]

Humans had nothing to do with the formation of these spires of volcanic tuff. The volcanic tuff was laid down in a couple major eruptions over a million years ago. The volcano tuff is relatively soft, but the cap rock is harder allowing them to erode with the spire-like shape.

[@jaysilverheals4445]

he misspoke. Those most certainly are hoo-doos the exact definition of it

[@headlessspaceman5681]

What is the definition of a hoo-doo? He didn't say they weren't hoo-doos, he said they weren't sedimentary formations like the hoo-doos at Bryce Canyon National Park. Which is also not a canyon. You mis-heard.

[@jonnawyatt]

God's got an rich imagination, hasn't he? 😊

[@headlessspaceman5681]

Yes She does but what's that got to do with all of these phallic rocks? Oh wait.

[@RobinMarks1313]

you're lying. They're old wizard castles that have eroded. get real

[@NickHaus683]

Hey bro could use some more human accent over the narration but all is good

[@lh3540]

Start your own channel if you don't like it. You don't need to sass other people's speech.

[@betchface752]

So pointy!