Nutt Mountain (Good Sight Mountains)

Publicado 2022-07-22

Good Sight Mountains (Part 3):

Nutt Mountain.

Nutt Mountain is situated in the northern section of the Good Sight Mountains. Like much of the range to the south, the northern area of the Good Sight Mountains is layered with undifferentiated flows and tuffs of the Rubio Peak Formation, sedimentary and igneous rock of the Bell Top Formation, and extruded rock and intrusive exposures of the Uvas Basaltic Andesite. The northern section of the Good Sight Mountains also bears a large area of hornblende andesites and latites (Tenaga Canyon Formation) which intrude and overlay the upper sedimentary rock of Bell Top Formation. The Tenaga Canyon Formation is intruded and overlain by the Uvas Basaltic Andesite. Further north of Nutt Mountain also sees exposures of Kneeling Nun Tuff (ash-flow tuff) originating from a resurgent cauldron in the southern portion of the Black Range (Emory Cauldron). Nutt Mountain is the tallest feature in the Good Sight Mountains.

Nutt Mountain itself is a volcanic plug (volcanic neck) comprised of flow banded rhyolite. Some short rhyolite flows and dikes are proximate to Nutt Mountain. The rhyolite is very localized and exposures extend less than a mile from Nutt Mountain. The rhyolite intrudes the igneous rocks of the Tenaga Canyon Formation and is believed to be within the mid to late 20 million year age range.

Geographically, Nutt Mountain is just north of an unincorporated community called Nutt in Luna County, New Mexico. The feature was named after Colonel Henry Clay Nutt who played a significant role in helping the Santa Fe Railway build a railway spur leading to Lake Valley via legislation. Nutt Mountain has also been called Sunday Cone by some.

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 30.0.6.54 by MAGIX Software GmbH.

References cited:

Clemons, R.E. (1979) Geology of Good Sight Mountains and Uvas Valley, southwest New Mexico. New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Circ. 169, p. 1-32.

Clemons, R. E., 1975, Petrology of the Bell Top Formation: New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook 26th field conf., p. 123-130.

Clemons, R. E., and Seager, W. R., 1973, Geology of Souse Springs quadrangle, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Bull. 100, p. 40.

Elston, W. E., Seager, W. R., and Clemons, R. E., 1975, Emory Cauldron, Black Range, New Mexico: Source of Kneeling Nun Tuff: New Mexico Geological Society, Guidebook 26th field conf., p. 283-292.

Julyan, Robert. The Mountains of New Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2006.

Full trip report:

peakbagger.com/climber/ascent.aspx?aid=1553484

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