Level Mountain

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search

Level Mountain

Satellite image of Level Mountain (middle-right) and Heart Peaks (upper-left

corner). This image is approximately 80 km (50 mi) east–west.

Highest point

Peak Meszah Peak[1][2]

Elevation 2,164 m (7,100 ft)[1][2]

Listing Mountains of British Columbia

58°28′43″N 131°26′14″WCoordinates:  58°28′43″N 13
Coordinates
1°26′14″W[1][3]

Dimensions

Length 70 km (43 mi)[4]

Width 45 km (28 mi)[4]

Area 1,800 to 3,000 km2 (690 to 1,160 sq mi)[4][5]

Volume 860 km3 (210 cu mi)[5]
 Geography

Level Mountain

Location of Level Mountain

Country Canada[6]

Province British Columbia[6]

District Cassiar Land District[7]

Parent range Nahlin Plateau[4]

Topo map NTS 104J6[7]

Geology

Formed by Shield volcano (basal feature), stratovolcano, lava

domes, spatter cones, tuyas (overlying features)[5]

Age of rock < 15,000,000 yrs[8]

Type of rock Basalt, ankaramite, trachyte, rhyolite, phonolite[9]

Volcanic region Northern Cordilleran Province[8]

Last eruption Unknown[6]

Level Mountain is a large volcanic complex in the Northern Interior of British

Columbia, Canada. It is located 50 km (31 mi) north-northwest of Telegraph
Creek and 60 km (37 mi) west of Dease Lake on the Nahlin Plateau. With a
maximum elevation of 2,164 m (7,100 ft), it is the second-highest of four large
complexes in an extensive north–south trending volcanic region. Much of the
mountain is gently-sloping; when measured from its base, Level Mountain is
about 1,100 m (3,600 ft) tall, slightly taller than its neighbour to the
northwest, Heart Peaks. The lower, broader half of Level Mountain is a shield while
its upper half has a more steep, jagged profile. Its broad summit is dominated by
the Level Mountain Range, a small mountain range with prominent peaks cut by
deep valleys. These valleys serve as a radial drainage for several small streams
that flow from the mountain. Meszah Peak is the only named peak in the Level
Mountain Range.
The mountain began forming about 15 million years ago, with volcanism having
continued up until geologically recent times. There have been four stages of
activity throughout the long volcanic history of Level Mountain. The first stage
commenced 14.9 million years ago with the eruption of voluminous lava flows;
these created a large shield volcano. The second stage began 7.1 million years
ago to form a structurally complicated stratovolcano located centrally atop the
shield. A series of lava domes were established during the third stage, which
began 4.5 million years ago. This was followed by the fourth and final stage with
the eruption of lava flows and small volcanic cones in the last 2.5 million years. A
wide range of rock types were produced throughout these stages, of which alkali
basalts and ankaramites are the most voluminous. They were deposited by
different types of volcanic eruptions characterized by fluid lava
flows and explosivity.