Near Santa María Regla in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, Mexico — The Central Highlands (North America)
Basaltic Prisms
Proyecto Comarca Minera
— Geoparque Hidalgo —
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 9, 2020
1. Basaltic Prisms Marker
(Sitio de interés geológico)
Sitio emblema del Proyecto Geoparque Comarca Minera
Municipio: Huasca de Ocampo
Ejido: Santa Maria Regla
Coordenadas: 20o 05' 07.94" N; 98o 33' 06.99" W
Altitud: 2,896 metros sobre el nivel del mar
Las rocas de este Geositio fueron descritas en 1803 por el naturalista Alexander Von Humboldt, que, al quedar impresionado por la singularidad de estas estructuras de origen volcánico, las plasmó a lápiz. En la actualidad estos bocetos se encuentran resguardados en el Museo Británico de la ciudad de Londres.
Los Prismas Basálticos son un tipo de estructuras formadas por procesos de disyunción columnar o diaclasamiento (fracturamiento de la roca) en materiales rocosos de origen volcánico con un alto contenido de minerales ricos en hierro y magnesio (minerales máficos).
Este tipo de fracturamiento se origina a causa del enfriamiento rápido de magma al entrar en contacto con un cuerpo de agua. La solidificación del magma se desarrolla del interior al exterior de los centros de los prismas,
this page online
English translation:
Basaltic Prisms
(Site of geological interest)
An emblematic site of the Mining Geopark Project
Municipality: Huasca de Ocampo
Ejido: Santa Maria Regla
Coordinates: 20o 05' 07.94" N; 98o 33' 06.99" W
Elevation: 2,896 meters above sea level
The rocks of this site were described in 1803 by the naturalist Alexander Von Humboldt, who, being impressed by the uniqueness of these structures of volcanic origin, drew them in pencil. These sketches are now kept at the British Museum in London.
Basaltic prisms are a type of structures formed by processes of columnar disjunction or diaclasation (rock fracturing) in rocky materials of volcanic origin with a high content of minerals rich in iron and magnesium (mafic minerals).
This type of fracturing is caused by the rapid cooling of magma upon contact with a body of water. The solidification of magma develops from the inside to the outside of the prism centers, creating columns up to 40 meters high with polygonal sections that have five to eight sides.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 9, 2020
2. Basaltic Prisms Marker
An associated marker is to the right, seen here near the entrance to the park.
Location. 20° 14.061′ N, 98° 33.833′ W. Marker is near Santa María Regla, Hidalgo, in Huasca de Ocampo. Marker can be reached from Camino a Prismas Basálticas, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Santa María Regla HGO 43516, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Basaltic Prisms (here, next to this marker); Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); The San Antonio Dam (about 150 meters away); The Beauty of Geometric Lava (about 180 meters away); The Church of San Juan Bautista (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Consuelo Velásquez Sosa (approx. 3.7 kilometers away); Coronel José María Pérez (approx. 11.4 kilometers away); Benito Juárez (approx. 11.5 kilometers away).
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, December 9, 2020
3. Basaltic Prisms of Huasca de Ocampo
Photographed By Alexander von Humboldt, 1803
4. An example of a von Humboldt sketch of the basaltic prisms
Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 20, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
