Idiji Ridge Explained

Idiji Ridge
Elevation M:2359
Elevation Ref:[1]
Country:Canada
Region Type:Province
Region:British Columbia
District:Cassiar Land District
Range:Tahltan Highland
Map:Canada British Columbia
Label Position:below
Coordinates:57.6765°N -130.6232°W
Topo Maker:NTS

Idiji Ridge is a mountain ridge extending east of Tencho Glacier on the southern flank of Mount Edziza in northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is bounded on the south by a valley containing an unnamed creek, on the east by Tennaya Creek valley and on the north by cirques extending east of Ice Peak.[2] Idiji Ridge takes its name from the adjacent Idiji Glacier; Idiji means "it thunders" in the Tahltan language.[2] [3]

The highest point of Idiji Ridge reaches an elevation of 2359m (7,740feet) at its westernmost end.[1] [2] Idiji Ridge is one of three ridges east of the Big Raven Plateau named by Canadian volcanologist Jack Souther, the other two being Cartoona Ridge and Sorcery Ridge to the south.[2]

Geology

The base of Idiji Ridge consists of sedimentary, volcanic and metamorphic rocks of Mesozoic and Paleozoic age. These rocks are overlain by Miocene alkali basalt flows of the Raspberry Formation, the oldest geological formation of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex. The Raspberry rocks are overlain by Pliocene alkali basalt flows of the Tenchen Member of the Nido Formation which are overlain by Pleistocene comendite, comenditic trachyte and pantellerite of the Pyramid Formation.[2]

Overlying the Pyramid Formation is Pleistocene alkali basalt, hawaiite and minor tristanite, trachybasalt and mugearite of the lower assemblage of the Ice Peak Formation which are in the form of lava flows and pyroclastic breccia. The upper assemblage of the Ice Peak Formation is mainly present at the western end of Idiji Ridge. It consists of Pleistocene alkali basalt, trachybasalt, tristanite, mugearite, benmoreite and trachyte that are in the form of lava flows, lava domes and pyroclastic breccia.[2]

The youngest rocks comprising Idiji Ridge are Holocene alkali basalts of the Big Raven Formation which occur at the westernmost end of the ridge. These alkali basalts are in the form of volcanic bombs, agglutinate and lava flows.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Elevation and coordinates derived from Google Earth.
  2. Souther. J. G.. Jack Souther. Geology, Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia. 1623A. 1:50,000. Geologic map. M. Sigouin, Geological Survey of Canada. Energy, Mines and Resources Canada. 1988. en. 10.4095/133498. free.
  3. 876. Idiji Glacier. 2024-07-02.