By: De’Jah Seabrooks, Follow South Jersey Intern
NEW JERSEY — Most people associate volcanoes with dramatic eruptions, fiery lava flows, and towering peaks, with thoughts of Pompeii and images far from the Jersey Shore. However, our Garden state is home to a big secret Rutan Hill, also known as the Beemerville Volcano.
Rutan Hill is located in Wantage Township, Sussex County. It’s visible from HighPoint State Park along the Appalachian Trail according to NJ YouTube Video. The hill itself is mostly covered in trees and vegetation. While it might not resemble the iconic image of a volcano, this unassuming hill in Sussex County holds a fascinating geological history.
Rutan Hill isn’t a typical cone-shaped volcano. It’s a diatreme, a unique geological formation created by a powerful interaction between magma and groundwater according to NJ.gov. Imagine molten rock deep within the Earth encountering a pocket of water. The result? A colossal steam explosion, far more violent than a typical eruption. This explosion blasted rock and debris upwards, creating the mound we see today. This type of volcanic activity is distinct from the effusive eruptions that build typical volcanoes.
The Cortlandt-Beemerville Magmatic Belt, a geological zone, similar to a tectonic plate, stretching across New Jersey and into New York, is home to Rutan Hill and other intriguing formations, including the Watchung Mountains. This belt hints at a period of significant tectonic activity millions of years ago. Rutan Hill has been dormant for eons so much so that it has been labeled as an extinct volcano. Its presence speaks to the dynamic forces that shaped the region’s landscape.
So, why all the hype about a nonactive volcano? According to NJ.gov, none of the 169 active volcanoes in America are near New Jersey. In fact 50 of them are in Alaska ironically enough. One of the most captivating aspects of diatremes, like Rutan Hill, is their potential to contain diamonds. The explosive forces that create these formations can bring these precious gems, formed deep within the Earth, closer to the surface.
While exploring Rutan Hill, it’s important to remember that it’s a protected area, and any attempts to dig or excavate are prohibited. The real treasure of Rutan Hill lies in its scientific value and the glimpse it provides into Earth’s powerful processes.
For those interested in delving deeper into the geology of Rutan Hill and the surrounding area, the New Jersey Geological Survey offers a great deal of information. Their resources can help understand the complex geological processes that formed this unique landscape.
Though it’s an amazing opportunity to connect with the Earth’s deep history and discover a hidden wonder right here in New Jersey, visitors must be mindful that it is a private area with residents who live there as reported on NJ.com.
It may not be able to spew lava anytime soon, but Rutan Hill is still considered a volcano, and, if any of us are alive in about 400 million years, we might just see that lava come up to the surface.
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