House Mountain, Sedona, Arizona | Miocene House Mountain volcano began erupting about 15 million years ago with the oldest lava flows composed of subhorizontal hawaiite. Covering this is a compound cinder cone with two vents. This cinder pile was largely buried during shield volcano formation with numerous lava flows composed of mugearite, benmoreite and basaltic andesite. These flows are visible in this photograph taken from near Cornville to the southwest of House Mountain. The knob located on top of House Mountain is a remnant of a benmoreite dome and lava flow about 50 feet thick. Its shape on top of the mountain reminded early pioneers of a house. House Mountain appears to be a symmetrically shaped shield volcano from this southwest view. (Photo and text by Wayne Ranney)
Online resources:
Bezy, J.V., 2012, A Guide to the Geology of the Sedona & Oak Creek Canyon area, Arizona. Arizona Geological Survey Down-to-Earth DTE #20, 42 p. http://repository.azgs.az.gov/uri_gin/azgs/dlio/1694
Holm, R.F., and Wittke, J.H., 1996, Geologic Map of the Summit Area of House Mountain, Yavapai County, Arizona: Arizona Geological Survey Contributed Map CM-96-C, map scale 1:6,000, 26 p. and 2 map sheets. http://repository.azgs.az.gov/uri_gin/azgs/dlio/1102
Holm, R.F., 2016, The North Verde Volcanic Field, Verde Valley, Arizona.. Arizona Geological Survey Contributed Report, CR-16-E, 31 p. and 6 appendices. http://repository.azgs.az.gov/uri_gin/azgs/dlio/1687
