At its highest point, this formation reaches over 1,000 feet above sea level and boasts a flat rock surface measuring more than a quarter-mile in diameter.On the western side of this Sussex County township, in the section known as Beemerville, the already mountainous terrain suddenly rises 200 feet up a private, residential road.
Perched 1,000+ feet above sea level looms a massive rock formation with a colossal expanse of flat terrain stretching a quarter-mile across its peak.
In Beemerville, a region within western Sussex County, the topography undergoes an abrupt ascent of 200 feet via a privately owned residential road. The area was already quite hilly prior to this sudden elevation.
A vast and wide flat rock, with a diameter of over a quarter-mile, sits atop the highest point of this formation, reaching more than 1,000 feet above the sea level.
It is intriguing to learn that this lone proof stands as the last remaining piece of a once bustling volcano, dessimated from its glory days by a massive frozen sheet of ice during the Ice Age.
The hill in question has been given a few different names throughout its history. Depending on the context, it may be referred to as Mt. Rutan, Rutan Hill or Volcanic Hill – the last of which suggests the presence of a volcanic history in the region. Interestingly, despite the rocky nature of the surface, there exists at least one house that has been partially dug into its slopes.
Separating itself from typical fiery mountains, Rutan Hill displays unique attributes. Missing a traditional cone shape or spilling lava, the hill instead presents a geological peculiarity called a diatreme. This pipe-shaped structure rose through Earth’s bedrock from magma enriched with gas fermenting beneath the surface. The surging magma forcefully split the terrain below as it journeyed upward. The resulting rock, containing jumbled fragments fused under the pressure of formative breccia.
It’s believed that Rutan Hill experienced its volcanic activity back in the Devonian Period, at an indeterminate date on record. New Jersey formed part of a larger landmass known as Laurentia at that point in history, over hundreds of millions of years past. Guesstimates vary between 360 and 440 million years ago regarding when precisely the landmass earned its fiery reputation.
The volcanic past of New Jersey boasts a scarce and captivating occurrence, anomalous and scarcely reported. Historian of Sussex County, Wayne McCabe, reports that one inquiry regarding Rutan Hill’s past erupts every decade. The sole example in the state, the site continues to intrigue McCabe. “It is astounding that a rare opportunity such as this is available for our locality,” corroborates McCabe.
Over the years, Rutan Hill has played a significant role in the local customs and ancestry, providing assistance to farmers and residents alike for many purposes.
Space mentioned that the zoo remains a frequent destination for geologists who wish to learn more about the volcano. He added that private ownership surrounds the remains; however, those heading north in New Jersey can carefully spy it out from afar. He stated that driving by offered a pretty bona fide view of the area, but spotting the exact location therein is essential for identification. He concluded his statement by expressing enthusiasm for the allure of observing the volcano from a distance.
Another volcanic hill within the vicinity that Space highlighted stands as a raw testament to the forces that gave way to the Appalachian Mountains. Though tumbled by time’s unceasing motions, it sits there yet as a fleeting remnant of significant volcanism — an ignored sibling hill to the much-lauded Rutan Hill within the same formation.
“A lot of the stone walls, you can still see the volcanic rock in, and it’s because the farmers didn’t really care what it was when they were making a wall, clearing the land,” he said.
To McCabe, a dormant volcano in his area is a symbol of pride that brings attention to the many different types of natural wonders permeating through New Jersey’s landscape.
“It’s interesting that we still have one example of that here in our county, and to the best of my knowledge we don’t have anywhere else in the state,” McCabe said.
Relevant articles:
– Volcano in New Jersey? It’s ancient (and dormant), but it’s here
– A volcano in N.J.? Peeking into the depths of Beemerville’s prehistoric …
– Wantage Township boasts of its volcanoes – njherald.com