666 H. B. PATTON ROCK STREAMS OF VETA PEAK, COLORADO 



is about 11,600 feet. At the west foot of the ridge flows a small stream, 

 the South Veta Creek. The ridge is extremely precipitous on this side 

 and the creek has cut a deep valley that lies some 2,500 feet below the 

 crest of the ridge. 



Veta Peak stands quite isolated from the main range of the Sangre de 

 Cristo divide, over which the railway passes to the west. It is absolutely 

 devoid of vegetation on the higher parts, although a heavy growth of 

 timber is to be seen covering Carboniferous rocks lower down the slope. 



On the western slope of this ridgelike peak occur two very pronounced 

 rock streams that started as landslides from the crest of the ridge and 

 ended below in tonguelike extensions that present in the most marked 

 fashion evidences of streamlike motion. While these streams started 

 from contiguous portions of the ridge the}^ terminated in streams whose 

 lower ends are about a mile apart. 



These rock streams were investigated by the writer in the fall of 1909. 

 At first he was not aware that there were two streams, so that almost the 

 entire available time was put in a study of the north rock stream, as 

 this was the first to be discovered. It was not until the day was far spent 

 and no time remained for a detailed study that the second or southern 

 rock stream was discovered. For this reason the south rock stream must 

 be allowed to pass with but brief mention and the detailed description be 

 limited to the north rock stream. 



Description- of the North Eock Stream 



general characteristics 



This rock stream differs very materially from all those described by 

 Cross and Howe^ first, in that the lower and more pronounced portion of 

 the stream is not found on an open and flat floor, but is confined to the 

 bottom of a narrow and sharply defined valley ; and, second, in that it is 

 a stream formed by the union of two distinct tributaries. Nothing can 

 be more striking or, to a geologist, more startling than a first view of this 

 rock stream as seen from a high level on the west side of the valley of 

 South Veta Creek. The valle}'' runs at this point approximately north 

 and south and parallel to the crest of the peak. The rock stream occu- 

 pies the bottom of a lateral valley that runs diagonally down from the 

 north end of the peak at a point close to the notch. The sides of the 

 lateral valley are composed of dark red shales and sandstones of Carbon- 

 iferous age, more or less obscured in places by a scanty growth of pines 

 and bushes. But the color of these red rocks stands out in sharp con- 

 trast with the comparatively white color of the rock stream in the bottom 



