Black Mountain (Cornudas Mountains)

The Cornudas Mountains (Part 6):

Black Mountain is the eastern most significant body of the Cornudas Mountains. It resides about 1 mile east of Wind Mountain along the Wind Mountain Draw and just north of the Bill Jones Ranch. Black Mountain is a sill complex bearing numerous sills. The intrusive rock is comprised of porphyritic nepheline syenite and penetrates the sedimentary rock from the Lower Permian Period. The intrusions continues through the unevenly deposited, or eroded away in some locations producing nonconforming layers of, Cretaceous sedimentary rocks that overlay the rock from the Lower Permian Period. The largest exposure of the igneous rock is on the western to northwestern half of the feature and includes the summit. Most of the exposed surface of Black Mountain is mass wasted materials of bedrock and soil most of which is underlain by the Cretaceous sedimentary rocks. The Cretaceous layers include the Muleros Formation (limestone, shale, and siltstone), Mesilla Valley Formation (sandstone and siltstone), Campagrande Formation (siltstone and older limestone), and Cox Sandstone (conglomerates, sandstone, and thin limestone that overlays unconformably over Permian rock). Cretaceous rock exposures are seen along the western and northern slopes, some sections of the eastern and southwestern slopes, and higher surface areas on the eastern half of the mountain. Most of Black Mountain is encompassed and underlain by rock from the Lower Permian Period which consists of the San Andres Formation (dolomite, limestone, and groups of conglomerates), Yeso Formation (claystone, limestone, gypsum, shale, and sandstone), and Hueco Formation (limestone). Other areas of Black Mountain are covered by young superficial deposits.

At our dismount point we used an old gate to enter the old corral and bypassed it by crawling under another. From there we managed to link up with another road and headed east for about a half mile. Once our objective came into view, we broke off the road and headed southeast towards the main mass of Black Mountain (we also wanted to avoid a bull). The route is easy going with a couple arroyos.

As we worked our way up the main slope on the north, our biggest obstacles were the interesting rock formations and vegetation. The vegetation is the only serious contender we delt with. The slope itself is broken up at a couple points that levels off. The last portion being the most significant which gives you an interesting view of the mountain's lower terrain features and Wind Mountain to the west rising from behind the rest of Black Mountain.

The final slope being the steepest and most densely vegetated is the short slope to ascend. Rocky exposed outcroppings on your left and right. Once on top we had only a short way to walk due west to reach the highest point on the mountain which is wide and flat similar to Alamo Mountain. The area is marked by a small rock pile.

From the summit, we had probably one of the best views of Cerro Diablo, Miller Mountain, and the rest of Sierra Tinaja Pinta. Wind Mountain dominates your westward view, and in its shadow immediately south sits Chattfield Mountain. To the north we got great view of Cornudas Mountain. To the east we enjoyed the view of the Salt Basin, the Guadalupe Mountains, and the Brokeoff Mountains.

We enjoyed our view and the sounds of coyotes howling for a good amount of time before making our way back down with no incident. We returned to the vehicle just before sunset.

All photos and videos taken by Alexander F. O'Connor.

Video produced using Movie Maker (Version 2012) by Microsoft Corporation.

Soundtrack by Alexander F. O'Connor.

Music production, mixing, and editing made possible using Music Maker (64-bit) Version 30.0.4.44 by MAGIX Software GmbH.

References cited:

Nutt, C.J, O'Neill, J.M., Kleinkopf, M.D., Klein, D.P., Miller, W.R., Rodriguez, B.D., and McLemore, V.T., 1997, Geology and mineral resources of the Cornudas Mountains, New Mexico: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 97-282, 46 p.

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