Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 5.1
Location of the California rock glacier in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern
Colorado
Table 5.1
Geomorphic characteristics of California rock glacier
Variable
Average
Standard deviation
Elevation
3655.8 m
Range: 3856-3,499 m
83.2
◦
35.4
◦
Aspect
18.3
◦
7.6
◦
Slope
Curvature
a
0.03
1.11
Plan curvature
b
0.01
0.69
Profile curvature
c
- 0.02
0.54
a
Positive values indicate a convex slope; negative indicate concave
b
In the direction of the slope
c
Perpendicular to the slope
shale, and minor amounts of limestone. Tonalite gneiss (Early Proterozoic) meta-
morphic rocks that are white to light gray green can also be found on the surface.
A sequence of thrust faults exist in the free face behind the head of the rock glacier
(Parson
1987
; Johnson and Bruce
1991
)
.
During the Last Glacial Maximum, the western half of the massif contained rel-
atively straight, narrow, and thin glaciers that emerged from single cirques. On the
eastern and northern flanks, the glaciers were thicker and wider and nourished by
multiple cirques. The largest glacier, which occupied the Huerfano Valley, extended
about 12 km north from Blanca Peak and covered an area of about 1.8
10
7
m
2
×
(Brugger et al.
2007
).
