 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Snake Butte Laccolith

   November 03, 2020

    Snake Butte

   Photographer:  Rod Benson
   Summary Authors:  Rod Benson

    Snake Butte is a 2.6 mile (4.1 km) long  laccolith located on
   the  Fort Belknap Reservation in north-central Montana. The
    magma that became the  butte originated from a  volcanic
   center, which formed the  Bears Paw Mountains several miles to the
   southwest. The Bears Paw Mountains, shown in the background, are
   remnants of volcanoes that were active some  50 million years ago.
   In the millions of years since the laccolith hardened, the less durable
    sedimentary rock above and around it  eroded away, exposing the
    igneous rock of Snake Butte. The fence-like appearance of the
   cliffs shown in this aerial photo is due to  columnar jointing,
   which occurred as the magma cooled.
   During the 1930s, the durable rock of Snake Butte was used to build the
   causeway at the  Fort Peck Dam on the  Missouri River in
   northeastern Montana. The quarry area can be seen along the right side
   of the butte in the photo.  Snake Butte is interesting for several
   other reasons, including its significance as a  sacred place for the
   tribes of the Fort Belknap Reservation, and the clues left there by the
    Laurentide Ice Sheet thousands of years ago. Photo taken August 17,
   2020.
     * Snake Butte, Montana Coordinates:  48.3736, -108.85655

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Geology Links

     *  Earthquakes
     *  Geologic Time
     *  Geomagnetism
     *  General Dictionary of Geology
     *  Mineral and Locality Database
     *  Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
     *  This Dynamic Earth
     *  USGS
     *  USGS Ask a Geologist
     *  USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
     *  USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
