EE*PICO: DEL FRAILE: 
(THE FRIAR’S PEAK.) 
The position and general character of this peak have already been 
referred to (p. 81). See.also Pl. X. 
It rises on the northwest side of the principal cone to a 
height only about 1,000 feet less than that of the cone itself. On 
the side away from the cone it displays a marked amphitheater-like 
structure. It is principally of interest as being a point usually 
gained in earlier times by explorers who attempted an ascent of the 
mountain, and also as having provoked much discussion as to its 
origin. Its general appearance makes it at first sight seem to be the 
remains of an earlier crater of which less than a fourth is now left. 
Its projecting peak, its semi-circular shape and its constitution of 
distinct layers of lava between which strata of loose volcanic products 
intervene, all point to the correctness of this supposition. If it be an 
older crater a shifting of the eruptive center has evidently taken place 
to the southeast, for this is the direction in which the present cone 
les. But this view of the origin of the peak, though it has been 
usually held hitherto, is now strongly opposed by the Mexican 
geologists, Aguilera and Ordofiez.* In their opinion the Pico del 
Fraile is but a portion of the principal cone which has been isolated 
by erosion. They base their opinion, first, on the fact that the layers 
of lava and breccias which in varying order compose the:peak, are of so 
loose structure as to expose it strongly to disintegration, and secondly, 
on the fact that the slope of the layers which form the peak is exactly 
that of the strata of the principal cone. Hadacrater been located 
here, they argue, the layers should slope outward from the crater and 
at right angles to their present dip. While it would be no unusual 
occurence to find strata sloping inward in a crater, it hardly seems 
likely that these would follow so closely the inclination of the principal 
slope were they not identical in origin with the latter. The sepa- 
ration of the peak the authors account for as having taken place 
through transverse crevices which were entered by waters; surround- 
ing areas were removed, thus leaving the peak standing in relief. 
Should any origin prior to that of the principal cone be assigned 
*O%. cit, p. 28, 
99 
