{{good article}} {{Short description|Cinder cone in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Nahta Cone | image = Nahta cone from east june 2006.jpg | image_alt = A dark-coloured volcanic cone with a summit crater rising above a sparsely snow-covered rocky plateau. | image_caption = Nahta Cone from the east | mapframe = yes | mapframe-caption = Location in [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]] | mapframe-zoom = 7 | elevation_m = 1670 | elevation_ref = {{sfn|Global Volcanism Program: Spectrum Range|loc=Synonyms & Subfeatures}} | coordinates = {{Coord|57|18|29|N|130|49|13|W|type:mountain_region:CA-BC|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = {{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} | etymology = {{gloss|Seven}} in the [[Tahltan language]]{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} | map= Canada British Columbia | map_alt = | map_caption = Location in British Columbia | country = [[Canada]]{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}} | region_type = [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Province]] | region = [[British Columbia]]{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}} | district = [[Cassiar Land District]]{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} | part_type = [[Protected area]] | part = [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]]{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} | range = [[Tahltan Highland]]{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}} | topo_maker = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] | topo_map = {{Canada NTS Map Sheet|104|G|7}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} | formed_by = [[Volcanism of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex|Volcanism]]{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=26}} | type = [[Cinder cone]]{{sfn|Natural Resources Canada: Nahta Cone}} | geology = [[Hawaiite]]{{sfn|Souther|1988}} | last_eruption = [[Holocene]] age{{sfn|Natural Resources Canada: Nahta Cone}} }} '''Nahta Cone''' is a small [[cinder cone]] in [[Cassiar Land District]] of northwestern [[British Columbia]], Canada. It has an [[elevation]] of {{convert|1670|m|ft|abbr=off}} and lies near the northern edge of the [[Arctic Lake Plateau]], a glacially scored [[plateau]] of the [[Tahltan Highland]] which in turn extends along the western side of the [[Stikine Plateau]]. The cone is about {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=off}} south-southeast of the community of [[Telegraph Creek]] and lies in the southwestern corner of [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]], one of the largest [[provincial parks in British Columbia]].
Nahta Cone is a part of the [[Mount Edziza volcanic complex]] and overlies a [[limestone]] hill. The summit of the cone contains a circular [[volcanic crater|crater]] breached on the east which was the source of a roughly {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} long lava flow that travelled northerly and then westerly into the [[river source|head]] of Nahta Creek. [[Ejecta]] from the volcano extends about {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} to the west and {{convert|700|m|ft|abbr=on}} to the north. Access to this isolated [[volcanic cone]] is limited to float plane or helicopter.
==Geography== Nahta Cone is located in [[Cassiar Land District]] of northwestern [[British Columbia]], Canada, near the northern edge of the [[Arctic Lake Plateau]].{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Cassiar Land District}} It has an [[elevation]] of {{convert|1670|m|ft|abbr=on}} and rises about {{convert|60|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the glacially scored surface of the plateau to a circular [[volcanic crater|crater]] breached on the east.{{sfn|Global Volcanism Program: Spectrum Range|loc=Synonyms & Subfeatures}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}} The cone is surrounded by [[Mess Creek]] valley to the west, [[Wetalth Ridge]] and Little Arctic Lake to the east, [[Tadekho Hill]] to the northeast, [[Exile Hill]] to the north and Arctic Lake to the south.{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}} Between Nahta Cone and Tadekho Hill is Nahta Creek which flows west through a valley into Mess Creek, a northwest-flowing [[tributary]] of the [[Stikine River]].{{sfn|Souther|1988}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Mess Creek}}
Nahta Cone lies in the southwestern corner of [[Mount Edziza Provincial Park]] about {{convert|70|km|mi|abbr=on}} south-southeast of the community of [[Telegraph Creek]].{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}} With an area of {{Convert|266180|ha|acre|abbr=off}}, Mount Edziza Provincial Park is one of the largest [[provincial parks in British Columbia]] and was established in 1972 to preserve the volcanic landscape.{{sfn|Global Volcanism Program: Edziza|loc=Photo Gallery}}{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}} It also includes the [[Spectrum Range]] to the northeast and [[Mount Edziza]] further to the north which are separated by the broad east–west valley of [[Raspberry Pass]].{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=104}} Mount Edziza Provincial Park is in the [[Tahltan Highland]], a southeast-trending [[Upland and lowland|upland]] area extending along the western side of the [[Stikine Plateau]].{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}}{{sfn|Holland|1976|p=49}}
==Geology== Nahta Cone is the southernmost [[cinder cone]] of the [[Big Raven Formation]], the youngest and least voluminous [[geological formation]] of the [[Mount Edziza volcanic complex]].{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=214}}{{sfn|Edwards|1997|pp=10, 11}} It formed on top of a [[limestone]] hill that overlies a [[contact (geology)|contact]] between [[Early Devonian]] [[granitic rock]]s and [[Early Carboniferous]] [[volcanic rock]]s of the Stikine Assemblage, the oldest exposed [[stratigraphy|stratified]] rocks of the [[Stikinia terrane]] which [[Accretion (geology)|accreted]] to the [[continental margin]] of North America during the [[Jurassic]].{{sfn|Souther|1992|pp=26, 39}}{{sfn|Logan|Drobe|1993|pp=137, 141}}{{sfn|George et al.|2021|p=4}} Five tiny [[hawaiite]] [[wikt:conelet|conelets]] consisting of black and brick-red [[scoria]] [[volcanic block|blocks]] comprise Nahta Cone; the hawaiite contains [[phenocryst]]s of [[olivine]] and [[plagioclase]].{{sfn|Souther|1988}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}}{{sfn|Logan|Drobe|1993|p=141}} Nahta Cone is somewhat older than [[The Ash Pit]] in the [[Mess Lake Lava Field]] which may be the youngest cinder cone of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex.{{sfn|Souther|1992|pp=235, 236}}
Nahta Cone was the source of [[pyroclastic fall|air-fall]] [[tephra]] and a roughly {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} long lava flow which extends northerly and then westerly into the [[river source|head]] of Nahta Creek.{{sfn|Souther|1988}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}} The air-fall tephra is [[lapilli]]-sized and distributed about {{convert|500|m|ft|abbr=on}} west and {{convert|700|m|ft|abbr=on}} north of the cone, suggesting that the volcano was volcanically active at least twice during different wind conditions.{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}}{{sfn|Logan|Drobe|1993|p=141}} Erosion has unmodified the blocky surface of the lava flow, but Nahta Creek at its distal end has begun to etch a new channel where it displaced the stream.{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=235}} Canadian [[volcanologist]] [[Jack Souther]] obtained a [[radiocarbon date]] of 1,340 years from the lava flow in 1970.{{sfn|Logan|Drobe|1993|p=141}}
==Name and etymology== [[File:Nahta cone from southeast june 2006.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A dark-coloured volcanic cone with a summit crater rising above a sparsely snow-covered plateau with little vegetation.|Nahta Cone and lava flow from the southeast with the [[Spectrum Range]] obscured by clouds in the background]] The name of the cone became official on January 2, 1980, and was adopted on the [[National Topographic System]] map 104G/7 after being submitted to the [[BC Geographical Names]] office by the [[Geological Survey of Canada]].{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}}{{sfn|Geographical Names Data Base: Nahta Cone}} It means {{gloss|seven}} in the [[Tahltan language]], referring to the last seven survivors of the Wetalth people who were outcast or exiled from the [[Tahltan]]s in times past.{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}} Several other features on the Arctic Lake Plateau such as Wetalth Ridge, [[Outcast Hill]], Exile Hill and Tadekho Hill also have names with Tahltan roots that were adopted on January 2, 1980.{{sfn|Souther|1992|pp=199, 320}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Wetalth Ridge}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Outcast Hill}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Exile Hill}}{{sfn|BC Geographical Names: Tadekho Hill}} In his 1992 report ''The Late Cenozoic Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia'', Jack Souther gave Nahta Cone the [[numeronym]] ''AL-1''.{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=214}}
==Accessibility== Nahta Cone can be accessed via charter aircraft from [[Dease Lake]] and Tatogga Lake, the latter of which is near the community of [[Iskut]].{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=31}}{{sfn|BC Parks: Tatlatui Park}}{{sfn|BC Parks: Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park}} Private aircraft are prohibited from landing on the neighbouring Kitsu Plateau lava flows.{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}} Arctic Lake about {{convert|7|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Natha Cone and Little Arctic Lake about {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Nahta Cone are large enough to be used by float-equipped aircraft.{{sfn|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}}{{sfn|Souther|1992|p=31}} Landing on Little Arctic Lake with a private aircraft requires a letter of authorization from the [[BC Parks]] Stikine Senior Park Ranger.{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}} As of 2023, Alpine Lakes Air and BC Yukon Air are the only air charter companies permitted to provide access to this area via aircraft.{{sfn|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}}
==See also== *[[List of volcanoes in Canada]] *[[List of Northern Cordilleran volcanoes]] *[[Volcanism of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex]]
==References== {{reflist}}
===Sources=== {{refbegin|30em}} *{{cite map|url=https://volcano.si.edu/maps/GVAlaskaCanada/G910509-006.jpg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502071600/https://volcano.si.edu/maps/GVAlaskaCanada/G910509-006.jpg|title=Telegraph Creek, Cassiar Land District, British Columbia|scale=1:250,000|series=104 G|map=A 502|edition=3|type=Topographic map|publisher=[[Department of Energy, Mines and Resources]]|year=1989|language=en,fr|archive-date=May 2, 2021|ref={{harvid|Department of Energy, Mines and Resources|1989}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=41229|name=Cassiar Land District|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627144631/http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/41229.html|archive-date=June 27, 2018|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Cassiar Land District}}}} *{{cite thesis|last1=Edwards|first1=Benjamin Ralph|degree=PhD|title=Field, Kinetic, and Thermodynamic Studies of Magmatic Assimilation in the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province, Northwestern British Columbia|publisher=[[University of British Columbia]]|year=1997|isbn=0-612-25005-9}} *{{cite gvp|vn=320060|title=Edziza|archive-date=January 14, 2025|ref={{harvid|Global Volcanism Program: Edziza}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=11363|name=Exile Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001023443/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/11363.html|archive-date=October 1, 2021|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Exile Hill}}}} *{{cite journal|last1=George|first1=S. 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R.|url=https://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/publicationcatalogue/Paper/BCGS_P1993-01-09_Logan.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322174232/http://cmscontent.nrs.gov.bc.ca/geoscience/PublicationCatalogue/Paper/BCGS_P1993-01-09_Logan.pdf|archive-date=March 22, 2022|title=Geology and Mineral Occurrences of the Mess Lake Area (104G/7W)|work=Geological Fieldwork 1992|series=Paper 1993-1|publisher=[[Government of British Columbia]]|year=1993}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=22550|name=Mess Creek|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820152931/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/22550.html|archive-date=August 20, 2021|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Mess Creek}}}} *{{cite web|url=https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/mt_edziza/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230123120553/https://bcparks.ca/explore/parkpgs/mt_edziza/|archive-date=January 23, 2023|title=Mount Edziza Provincial Park|publisher=[[BC Parks]]|ref={{harvid|BC Parks: Mount Edziza Provincial Park}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=9012|name=Nahta Cone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001023507/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/9012.html|archive-date=October 1, 2021|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Nahta Cone}}}} *{{cite web|title=Nahta Cone|work=Catalogue of Canadian Volcanoes|publisher=[[Natural Resources Canada]]|date=March 10, 2009|url=http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/cat/volcano_e.php?id=svb_ncn_095|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211093755/http://gsc.nrcan.gc.ca/volcanoes/cat/volcano_e.php?id=svb_ncn_095|archive-date=December 11, 2010|ref={{harvid|Natural Resources Canada: Nahta Cone}}}} *{{cite cgndb|id=JAPZQ|title=Nahta Cone|access-date=February 9, 2025|ref={{harvid|Geographical Names Data Base: Nahta Cone}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=15116|name=Outcast Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009120305/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/15116.html|archive-date=October 9, 2022|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Outcast Hill}}}} *{{cite map|last1=Souther|first1=J. G.|author-link1=Jack Souther|title=Geology, Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia|map=1623A|scale=1:50,000|type=[[Geological map]]|cartography=M. Sigouin, [[Geological Survey of Canada]]|publisher=[[Energy, Mines and Resources Canada]]|year=1988|language=en|doi=10.4095/133498|doi-access=free}} *{{cite report|last1=Souther|first1=J. G.|author-link1=Jack Souther|title=The Late Cenozoic Mount Edziza Volcanic Complex, British Columbia|work=[[Geological Survey of Canada]]|publisher=Canada Communication Group|series=Memoir 420|year=1992|isbn=0-660-14407-7|doi=10.4095/133497|doi-access=free}} *{{cite web|url=https://bcparks.ca/spatsizi-plateau-wilderness-park/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250831193229/https://bcparks.ca/spatsizi-plateau-wilderness-park/|archive-date=August 31, 2025|title=Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park|publisher=[[BC Parks]]|ref={{harvid|BC Parks: Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park}}}} *{{cite gvp|vn=320070|title=Spectrum Range|archive-date=December 8, 2024|ref={{harvid|Global Volcanism Program: Spectrum Range}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=16744|name=Tadekho Hill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001030451/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/16744.html|archive-date=October 1, 2021|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Tadekho Hill}}}} *{{cite web|url=https://bcparks.ca/tatlatui-park/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250807112509/https://bcparks.ca/tatlatui-park/|archive-date=August 7, 2025|title=Tatlatui Park|publisher=[[BC Parks]]|ref={{harvid|BC Parks: Tatlatui Park}}}} *{{cite bcgnis|id=21024|name=Wetalth Ridge|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001020435/https://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/21024.html|archive-date=October 1, 2021|ref={{harvid|BC Geographical Names: Wetalth Ridge}}}} {{refend}}
==External links== *{{cite peakbagger|pid=51389|name=Nahta Cone, British Columbia}}
{{Mount Edziza volcanic complex}} {{Northern Cordilleran volcanoes}} {{Interior Mountains}}
[[Category:Cinder cones of British Columbia]] [[Category:Volcanoes of the Mount Edziza volcanic complex]] [[Category:Holocene cinder cones]] [[Category:One-thousanders of British Columbia]] [[Category:Big Raven Formation]] [[Category:Tahltan place names]] [[Category:Arctic Lake Plateau]]