Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Rocky Mountains
Photographed By Jackson Perrie, August 25, 2018
1. The Rocky Mountains Marker
Inscription.
The Rocky Mountains. . The high mountains west of here are the beginning of the Rocky Mountains. They are made up of resistant Precambrian granite and gneiss. The prominent red rocks in Red Rocks Park are the Fountain Formation, a series of sandstones and conglomerates that provide evidence of a much older episode of mountain building. That 280 million year old mountain range resembled the modern Rocky Mountains, but was eroded completely away before the Morrison Formation was deposited. The modern Rocky Mountains formed about 70 million years ago and tilted the rocks on which you stand.
The high mountains west of here are the beginning of the Rocky Mountains.
They are made up of resistant Precambrian granite and gneiss. The prominent red rocks
in Red Rocks Park are the Fountain Formation, a series of sandstones and conglomerates
that provide evidence of a much older episode of mountain building. That 280 million
year old mountain range resembled the modern Rocky Mountains, but was eroded completely
away before the Morrison Formation was deposited. The modern Rocky Mountains formed
about 70 million years ago and tilted the rocks on which you stand.
Erected by Friends of Dinosaur Ridge.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.
Location. 39° 40.667′ N, 105° 11.682′ W. Marker is in Golden, Colorado, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Hog Back Road (State Highway 93) near West Alameda Parkway. The marker is on the Dinosaur Ridge Trail which is a 1.1 mile wide paved section of West Alameda Parkway that is closed to traffic. This marker is found 350 yards southeast of the parking area located at the junction of 93 (Hog Back Road) & West Alameda Parkway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Golden CO 80401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker
Also see . . . 1. The Rocky Mountains. Encyclopedia Britannica entry (Submitted on October 17, 2018, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
2. The Fountain Formation. (Submitted on October 17, 2018, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Abigail Perrie, August 25, 2018
2. Eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains and the Fountain Formation
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 17, 2018, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 17, 2018, by Alan M. Perrie of Unionville, Connecticut. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
