Quartz Mountain is one mountain in the Wichita Mountain range.
The Wichita Mountains currently stretch from Granite, Oklahoma
(just 6 miles northwest of the Lodge) to Lawton, Oklahoma (about
65 miles southeast of the park). Most of the mountains in the
Wichita Range rise 1500 to 2000 feet above the surrounding plains,
but it hasn't always been this way….
550 Million Years Ago
Forces deep within the earth begin pulling apart the ancient
"foundation" rock that made up the original land area of the
Wichita Mountains.
This pulling action creates a large depression in the earth's surface,
which fills with water from the Cambrian Sea. Mud and sand partially
fill this depression. This depression stretched from Amarillo, Texas
to New Orleans, Louisiana. Over time this sediment is compressed into
shale and sandstone under the weight of additional sediment.
525 Million Years Ago
Due to continued stretching of the earth's surface, rock deep in the
earth's crust melts to create magma. This magma is forced up through
the foundation rock and the sandstone-shale layer. Magma that empties
into the water of the bay cools rapidly and becomes basalt.
The basalt has long since eroded away and no outcrops are available
for viewing.
Large amounts of the magma did not reach the surface. Instead, it
slowly cooled deep in the earth to form a rock called gabbro.
Locally, gabbro is called "black granite". An outcrop of gabbro can
be seen east of Roosevelt, OK on SH 19.
Near the end of the period of basalt and gabbro formation, another magma
was formed. This magma formed from the melting of foundation rock. It
poured out over the basalt at the surface to form rhyolite. This rock is
usually deposited on dry land indicating that the Cambrian Sea had receded.
The rhyolite in the western end of the Wichita Mountains range has
since eroded away. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge does have
several outcrops of rhyolite near their eastern boundary.
The magma that did not reach the surface and become rhyolite slowly cooled
underground and formed granite. This pinkish-red rock is the most
abundant rock in the park. The granite and gabbro formed a fairly solid
block that resisted further movements of the earth.
During the rest of this period, shifting and settling of the earth's
crust continued. Downward warping of the crust allowed the sea to
once again cover this area. Sediments were deposited over the rock
for a second time. The shifting and settling resulted in uneven layering
of the rock.
250 Million Years Ago
At this time the area that had been pulling apart slowly began to squeeze
back together. This pressure cracked and pushed the granite-gabbro block
up to the earth's surface. Quartz Mountain, along with the rest of the
Wichita Mountains became rocky islands jutting out of the water.
Wave cut terraces can be seen near the tops of the mountains south of
Lake Altus-Lugert. The most noticeable terrace is between 2,130 and 2,150 feet.
The ammonite fossil in the Nature Center was found west of the park near Mangum.
During this time period Mangum was under the sea.
200 Million Years Ago
The movements of the earth's crust ended at this time and the mountains
were covered with layers of soft red shale.
This shale protected the underlying rock from the actions of erosion,
when the seas receded.
1 Million Years Ago
The earth's crust once again began to uplift, removing the soft shale
layer on the mountains. Ever since this time the exposed rock has been
acted upon by the forces of erosion.
Today
This process continues as the wind, rain, temperature, and you and
I wear away these ancient rocks.
Common Geologic Questions
Where's the quartz?
Quartz is one mineral in the "mix" we call granite and it crystallizes at lower tempera-tures than some of the other minerals in granite. So it fills the small spaces between the other minerals in the granite matrix.
Can we collect quartz crystals?
No. Collection of any geologic or plant material is prohibited at
Quartz Mountain.
Is that pinkish-red rock sandstone?
The pinkish-red rock is granite.
How tall is Quartz Mountain?
The peak of Quartz Mountain is 2040 feet above sea level.
The base is at 1520 feet above sea level.
So if you climb Quartz Mountain you are climbing 520 vertical feet.
Why are the mountains so short?
They are very old. One of the oldest mountain ranges
in the United States. The Wichita's are older (& shorter)
than the Appalachian Mountains and much older and shorter than the Rocky Mountains.
Which mountain is Mount Scott?
Mount Scott can be found at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife
Refuge near Lawton.
Features/Facilities: 6,260 Lake Acres • 4,284 Park Acres •
Resort Lodge (118 guest rooms and suites) • 8 Two-bedroom Cabins (with kitchenettes) •
Mountainview Bunkhouse (64-person dormitory) • Performing Arts Complex •
5 Performing Arts Pavilions • Outdoor Amphitheatre (capacity of 200) •
5 Camping Areas, • 20 Full Hookups • 100 Electric/Water Hookups (5 handicap accessible) •
99 Primitive Sites • Restrooms / Showers (2 handicap accessible) • Sanitary Dump Stations •
Boat Ramps • Group Camp (capacity 125) • Nature Center • Naturalist • Hiking Trails •
Giftshop • North Shore ORV Area (Apr. 1- Sep. 30) • Sand Dunes • Swimming Beaches •
Miniature Golf • Water Skiing • Paddleboats • Grocery Store
