Needle Peak (Presidio County, Texas) Explained

Needle Peak
Photo Alt:A photo of Needle Peak and the Solitario
Elevation Ft:4608
Prominence Ft:821
Prominence Ref:[1]
Parent Peak:The Solitario
Map:Texas
Location:Presidio County, Texas, U.S.
Coordinates:29.4282°N -103.8102°W
Topo:USGS The Solitario

Needle Peak is located in Presidio County, in southwest Texas, United States.[2] Its summit, at an elevation of 4608feet above sea level, rises 328feet over the Lower Shutup, a canyon that runs along its eastern edge. Needle Peak is a Tertiary intrusion and stands within the Solitario, a circular domal uplift with a nine-mile diameter and a prominent limestone rim. The area is desert mountain terrain of basalt deposits. The vegetation consists primarily of sparse grasses, cacti, desert shrubs, and scrub brush. Needle Peak was named for its configuration.[2]

Locally, the name Needle Peak is also used to refer to another nearby location, Needle Peak (Brewster County, Texas), the small Sierra Aguja range, which is about 17 miles southeast of Needle Peak in Presidio County. The slopes of this range are noted as a source of quartz crystals, including green moss agate, botryoidal geodes,[3] Needle Peak sagenite, and pompon agates.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Needle Peak . List of John . January 5, 2013.
  2. News: Julia Cauble Smith . Solitario . Texas State Historical Association . 2008-04-08 .
  3. News: Tommy R. Woodward . Needle Peak Geology . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192931/http://www.agates123.com/sec2/page2.html . dead . 2016-03-03 . 2008-04-08 .
  4. News: Agates with Inclusions. 2008-04-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20080516214837/http://www.agateswithinclusions.com/TX.html. 2008-05-16. dead.