Where are the Superstition Mountains?

[chumley]

Well this seems like a simple question, doesn't it!?

@rvcarter recently posted a great new hike description where the first line states

Reaching the Superstition Mountains highest point...

referring to the peak often referred to on HAZ as 5057.

How is that the highest point in the Superstition Mountains I wondered? At more than 1200 feet higher, I would think that 6,266 foot Mound Mountain is the highest point. The hike description written by GPSJoe even says as much:

Did you ever want to go to the highest point in the Superstition Mountains?

So what gives? Clearly Mound Mountain is higher. But is it in the Superstition Mountains?

So I did some preliminary research.
Older maps place the name "Superstition Mountains" only on the prominent western range that runs about 7 miles from current-day LDSP to the Peralta trailhead. In fact, even current maps label only this as the Superstition Mountains -- with the exception of a secondary identification between Weavers and Miners Needles. That's it. No USGS map anywhere indicates that anything east of there is the Superstition Mountains.

What is clearly marked is the Superstition Wilderness. But that is a political boundary, not a natural one.

Wiki is all over the place with contradictory information, as are the various sites dedicated to hiking or climbing peaks.

The USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) lists "Superstition Mountain" as "The highest peak in the Superstition Mountains" This is as official as it gets. (Referring to peak 5057).

There is a USGS Benchmark on peak 5057 originally monumented in 1899 and described then as "LOCATED ON EASTERN END OF SUPERSTITION MTN.,...PROBABLY HIGHEST POINT ON MTN"

The 1910 and 1936 recoveries of the disc reported "IT IS ON HIGHEST PEAK OF SUPERSTITION MTS."

In 1938, it was reported as "ON SOUTHEASTERNMOST ONE OF TWO HIGHEST PEAKS OF SUPERSTITION MTS."

In 1946, "ON THE MOST SOUTHEASTERLY OF THE TWO HIGHEST PEAKS OF SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN."

Apparently the current disc was reset in 1965 without being documented with the USGS. Full USGS Datasheet.

Mound Mountain also has a USGS disc, but the datasheet for that disc has no indication of it being the highest point, or even part of the Superstition Mountains. It only indicates it's location with regards to local features: "LOCATED ABOUT 1 MI SE. OF REEVIS RANCH. ON ROUND, PINE-COVERED HILL ON DIVIDE BETWEEN CAMPAIGN CREEK TO E., REEVIS CREEK TO W. AND PINE CREEK TO N., ON EAST EDGE OF HIGHEST POINT OF MOUND-SHAPED MOUNTAIN."

The USGS GNIS report for Mound Mountain does not indicate it as being within the Superstition Mountains or not.

So while Mound Mountain is clearly higher than 5057 ... and the highest point in the Superstition Wilderness, I think it is certainly up for debate as to whether or not it is in the Superstition Mountains. I'd be happy if the Supes experts here chimed in (@friendofthundergod @wallyfrack etc.). Anybody have defined boundaries for the mountain range? Maps show all kinds of other named ranges inside what many consider to be the Superstition Mountains: Fish Creek Mountains, Salt River Mountains, Webster Mountain, Coffee Flat Mountain, Iron Mountain, Hackberry Butte, etc. It's not uncommon to have named features within a larger range, but that doesn't appear to be the case here. At least not according to how maps were drawn.

So seriously ... where are the Superstition Mountains?

[hippiepunkpirate]

Geologically speaking, the Superstition Mountains are an extinct resurgent caldera volcano, similar to, but not nearly as large as the Yellowstone Caldera (or as it is more commonly known, the Yellowstone Supervolano). I don't have much specific info laying around about it the moment (need to dig through the bookshelf at home), but this article seems to have a decent grasp on it: http://www.gemland.com/def33.htm

The gist is that the caldera was built by viscous lava, creating dacite and rhyolite. Going off their MS Paint illustration and the text, the caldera appears to extend over to Fish Creek Hill.

Of course, if you take a look at this Arizona Geologic Survey map: http://data.azgs.az.gov/geologic-map-of-arizona/
You can see the "Middle Miocene to Oligocene Volcanic Rocks (11-38 Ma)" that make up the caldera also extent a ways into the central section of the Eastern Superstitions, bounded on the north and south mostly by Precambrian sedimentary and igneous rocks.

Not that geologic history necessarily matches place names (although I think it should more so than it does), but geologically speaking, the "front range" of the Supes are definitely geologically "related" to majority of the Superstition Wilderness.

[LindaAnn]

@friendofthundergod is suddenly reevaluating his entire life...

Good question though. Without really thinking about it, I've always considered the mountains within the wilderness boundary to all be the Superstitions. Obviously that just an assumption/convenience based on the name of the wilderness. I'd be interested to know what the true definition of the range is.

[chumley]

@hippiepunkpirate
Thanks for the geology report. That's good info. When looking into this earlier I think it was Wiki that said there's some debate amongst geologists as to the origins of Superstition Mountain.

I like sources, so I clicked the little reference number and it cited a dead link that originated with Tom Kollenborn. I know he's a noted Superstition historian, so while I never found the original source for the geological debate/assessment, I did find an interesting FAQ on his blog. Two relevant points are included here:

18. How high is Superstition Mountain above sea level?
The highest point on Superstition Mountain above sea level is 5,074 feet. This is Southeast Superstition Peak. Summit 5,024 is the second highest point on Superstition Mountain. This point is directly above Lost Dutchman State Park. The highest point in the wilderness is Mound Mountain at 6,242 feet above sea level.

19. What is the difference between Superstition Mountain and the Superstition Wilderness Area?
Superstition Mountain is one specific geographical location (landmark) within the Superstition Wilderness Area, immediately east of Apache Junction. The Superstition Wilderness Area is a region of some 242 square miles (159,780 acres) containing many lesser mountains and some even higher mountains than Superstition Mountain.

I think some regular hazzers have some contact with Tom either personally or online. I wonder if he would have any more specific information to share on this question...

[chumley]

@hippiepunkpirate

Here's a good online map that shows the geology of the area.
http://data.azgs.az.gov/geologic-map-of-arizona/

It shows that much of the central wilderness area matches the same geology as the western "front range". It definitely becomes less defined heading east and south. Mound Mountain is in a totally different geologic zone (purple: Ys).

Yay! I love maps!

[AZLumberjack]

I think some regular hazzers have some contact with Tom either personally or online. I wonder if he would have any more specific information to share on this question...

I've met Tom Kollenborn on several occasions and often the discussion leads to the Superstitions. I also follow Tom on Facebook and he often launches into the geology of the mountains within our general area. Tom spent a lot of his time in these mountains and his curious nature led him to delve deep into the history of the Superstition Wilderness Area. He studied Geology for a time so I believe he has a pretty firm grasp on the history of the area. I think Tom and Jake (@hippypunkpirate) must have read the same books because they both come to the same conclusions. So it fits that Superstition Mountain is only one of the several mountains that make up the Superstition Wilderness Area.

[Alston_Neal]

@chumley
Wow Chums I don't care what folks say about you but that map link is really cool. Thanks

[hippiepunkpirate]

@chumley
I meant to include that exact link in my original post, but instead duplicated the gemland link Edited it into my post as well...