Taylor Ranch in Albuquerque in Bernalillo County, New Mexico — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Formation of Basalt - Cliff Base Trail

Boca Negra Canyon

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021

1. Formation of Basalt - Cliff Base Trail Marker

Inscription.

Boca Negra Canyon
Cliff Base Trail
Notice the unusual and varied texture of this basalt boulder. Basalt is generally considered to be the most common extrusive igneous rock on Earth, composed mostly of calcium-rich plagioclase and pyroxene with lesser amounts of olivine and amphibole. Some basalt lava flows contain natural gases. These gases get trapped in the cooling lava where they form numerous small holes or cavities called vesicles, resulting in vesicular basalt. The string of holes you see in this boulder was created by sheets or tubes of gas bubbles that formed as the molten lava cooled.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features.

Location. 35° 9.714′ N, 106° 43.138′ W. Marker is in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in Bernalillo County. It is in Taylor Ranch. Marker is on Cliff Base Trail east of Atrisco Drive NW. The marker is along the Cliff Base Trail at Boca Negra Canyon. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Albuquerque NM 87120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Estimating Petroglyph Age - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps from this marker); Desert Varnish - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps from this marker); Petroglyph Placement - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps from this marker);

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Reasons for Petroglyphs - Cliff Base Trail (a few steps from this marker); Petroglyph Meanings - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Rio Grande Style - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Petroglyph Orientation - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Formation of Boca Negra Canyon - Cliff Base Trail (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albuquerque.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021

2. Formation of Basalt - Cliff Base Trail Marker

Detail of Basalt and Vesicles image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, August 26, 2021

3. Detail of Basalt and Vesicles

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 122 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2021, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.