Glass Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Glass Mountains or Gloss Mountains are a series of mesas and butte
s that extend from the Permian
red beds
of the Blaine Escarpment of northwestern Oklahoma in Major County
. The Glass Mountains stretch west along US Highway 412
from Orienta
south of the Cimarron River. The name comes from the sparkling selenite crystals on the slopes and tops of the mesas.
In 1875, a transcription error by a mapmaker resulted in the name Gloss Mountains which is still a somewhat common name for the mountains.
The state of Oklahoma operates a state park six miles west of Orienta
on a mesa along Highway 412. The park allows climbers to hike to the top of the mesa via a path and stairs. Picnic tables have been installed, and a pond known as Rattlesnake Lake is nearby. The park was the site of an 05/04/2011 FBI shooting where the suspect in a 2010 Jacksonville, Florida mosque bombing was shot by the FBI after pulling a weapon on them while they tried to arrest him.
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
s that extend from the Permian
Permian
The PermianThe term "Permian" was introduced into geology in 1841 by Sir Sir R. I. Murchison, president of the Geological Society of London, who identified typical strata in extensive Russian explorations undertaken with Edouard de Verneuil; Murchison asserted in 1841 that he named his "Permian...
red beds
Red beds
Red beds are sedimentary rocks, which typically consist of sandstone, siltstone, and shale that are predominantly red in color due to the presence of ferric oxides. Frequently, these red-colored sedimentary strata locally contain thin beds of conglomerate, marl, limestone, or some combination of...
of the Blaine Escarpment of northwestern Oklahoma in Major County
Major County, Oklahoma
Major County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 7,545. Its county seat is Fairview. Located in northwestern Oklahoma. Major County is bounded by Woods and Alfalfa counties in the north, Garfield County on the east, Kingfisher, Blaine and Dewey on...
. The Glass Mountains stretch west along US Highway 412
U.S. Route 412
U.S. Route 412 is an east–west United States highway, first commissioned in 1982. Its route number is a "violation" of the usual AASHTO numbering scheme, as it comes nowhere near its implied "parent", US 12. U.S...
from Orienta
Orienta, Oklahoma
Orienta is a small community located at the junction US Highway 60 and US Highway 412 in Major County, Oklahoma. It lies north of Fairview, east of the Glass Mountains and south of the Cimarron River. The post office was established March 12, 1901, and took its name from the Kansas City, Mexico and...
south of the Cimarron River. The name comes from the sparkling selenite crystals on the slopes and tops of the mesas.
In 1875, a transcription error by a mapmaker resulted in the name Gloss Mountains which is still a somewhat common name for the mountains.
The state of Oklahoma operates a state park six miles west of Orienta
Orienta, Oklahoma
Orienta is a small community located at the junction US Highway 60 and US Highway 412 in Major County, Oklahoma. It lies north of Fairview, east of the Glass Mountains and south of the Cimarron River. The post office was established March 12, 1901, and took its name from the Kansas City, Mexico and...
on a mesa along Highway 412. The park allows climbers to hike to the top of the mesa via a path and stairs. Picnic tables have been installed, and a pond known as Rattlesnake Lake is nearby. The park was the site of an 05/04/2011 FBI shooting where the suspect in a 2010 Jacksonville, Florida mosque bombing was shot by the FBI after pulling a weapon on them while they tried to arrest him.