Volcanoes of Colorado

Colorado has a long history of volcanic activity in the state ranging from 65 million years ago to the recent past with three major events are responsible for the volcanism.  The Laramide Orogeny with the thrusting and uplift of the Rocky Mountains starting at 65 million years ago with the uplift of the Front Range resulted in some volcanism along the Front Range in the area around Golden and Granby. Intrusive emplacement with the foundering of the Farallon Plate between 44 and 29 million years ago developed the Colorado Mineral Belt. Volcanism associated with the mineralization intrusions led to the emplacement of volcanic rocks in the Green Mountain Reservoir area. The Rio Grande Rift started in New Mexico 26 million years ago and extended into Southern Colorado with extensive volcanism in the San Juan Mountains. More recently there was a small volcano in Eagle County in the Dotsero area.

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