After receiving a number of comments about this post (most of them gently telling me that my information was incorrect), I did additional research about volcanoes in Georgia. Sadly, the comments are correct. Pigeon Mountain isn’t a dormant volcano. In fact, based on the more extensive research I did, the geology just doesn’t work.
Most of the rock in the area is sandstone or limestone and doesn’t lend itself to volcanic activity. Though what is now Georgia had volcanic activity hundreds of millions of years ago, Pigeon Mountain wasn’t part of it. So, please forgive my error and thanks for all the corrections submitted to me!
Volcanoes – in Georgia???
When you think of volcanoes in the US, where do you think of them? Hawaii is a good bet, since there are 3 active volcanoes in the state. Maunaloa last erupted in 1984, but Kilauea has been erupting continuously since 1983. In addition, Loihi is still underwater, but erupting.
How about Alaska? Lots of volcanic activity up there. Or maybe the Pacific Northwest? Mount St. Helen, Mount Shasta, Mount Rainier all come to mind. There are even a few in California that are monitored by the USGS. And, we all know about Yellowstone and the supervolcano lurking beneath the surface.
But, have you ever thought about volcanoes in Georgia? Believe it or not, Pigeon Mountain in Northwest Georgia is a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1857. Besides Pigeon Mountain itself, in the Pigeon Mountain Volcanic Range there are 5 extinct volcanoes and 1 collapsed caldera. As you can see, this isn’t an impressive volcano.
Caves:
Located in Walker County Georgia near Lafayette, Pigeon Mountain features two caves. One of them, Ellison’s Cave is the 12th deepest cave in the US and reaches a depth of 1063 feet. According to Wikipedia, it a a technically difficult cave to explore and beginners are severely urged not to enter the cave.
The second cave, Petty John’s Cave, is a wild cave – not commercialized. As Wikipedia tells us, this is a cave much more suited to beginners. Still the basics of caving (spelunking) should be observed.
Between the two caves, explorers have mapped more than 20 miles of passages. It might be a cool trip for experienced cavers to experience. Since I’m not, I doubt I’ll be going in the caves.
So, what can you expect to find when exploring near dormant or extinct volcanoes? Well, for Pigeon Mountain, iron (usually in the form of hematite). No diamonds or any other precious gemstones are listed in the area, but the ghost town of Estelle is on Pigeon Mountain. Estelle was a iron mining town, so maybe there is a bit of iron left to find! And hematite tumbles into a beautiful silver stone.
Much like the abundance of gemstones in the North Georgia Mountains, I had no idea volcanoes had ever played a part in Georgia’s history. I’ll keep researching and let you know what I discover. And who knows, maybe what I find will become part of my next book, just as gemstones played a major role in The Gemstone Chronicles!
Connect with me:
What do you think? Did you know about the volcanoes that dot the North Georgia Mountains? Leave me a comment and let me know. And, so you don’t miss a post, subscribe to the blog. If you want to connect with me on the socials, I’m on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
JoMichelle says
Thanks for good read. No did not know any of this…love history, and science..
Bill Stuart says
Thanks! I hope you’ll visit that area and check it out!
Shannon medley says
Estelle mined iron ore not gold.
Bill Stuart says
Hi Shannon, My mistake. I will update the post to correct it.
Misty says
I’ve lived here my entire life and never knew that!
Bill Stuart says
Hi Misty. I took the information from an 1857 newspaper article that mentioned it. I don’t know the geology of the area well enough to say if it is 100% true, but that’s what the report stated!
Martin says
Bill, Pigeon Mountain is a sequence of sedimentary rocks of Ordovician to Carboniferous age that has been folded into a large elongate geosyncline. The 1857 newspaper article appears to me to be a bit of journalistic license combined with a few bored locals. There’s an online Entertainer by the name of Dutchsinse who maintains Pigeon Mountain is a volcano but he’s not an Earth Scientist and he’s basing his analysis purely on images from Google Earth..he hasn’t actually visited the area and actually picked up and looked at any of the geology. All the best Martin (Retired Geologist)
Bill Stuart says
Hi Martin, Yes, after a few comments correcting my information, I added a disclaimer at the start of the post acknowledging the Pigeon mountain isn’t volcanic. I also discovered the mining town wasn’t a gold mine, either. I appreciate the information (as I would love to study geology). Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Abe Wesley Allen says
I have. The pigeon mountan chain is in fact no way a volcanic range. The volcanoes are in fact between the ridges and I have in fact explored them and in fact the geology is there to support this. They 1857 reporting was a over a century before google maps and was not the first reporting of activity from the minor volcanoes.
These are the only volcanoes in the southeast US and are recognized by the usgs. They are real and I have remnants of one of the crystaline quarts veins from a vent to prove it.
Jackie Chapman says
I agree. There may not be evidence everywhere, because most of it was likely washed away with the last cataclysm, but there has definitely been volcanic activity there in the past, likely around 12,000 years ago. There is no way that the tube inside Ellison’s Cave was not a Lava Tube at one point in time.
Wes Dawson says
My mother grew up on and around pigeon mountain in the early 1900’s with my grandfather who worked in the mines there told me about the volcano which opens on to the top of the mountain at one point. She actually looked down into it and saw fire below. I mentioned it to my teachers at school and they poo pooed the idea just as you are doing. Unfortunately, neither they, or apparently you, have ever visited the area or you would know that while there is a great deal of sedimentary rock there are also a great amount of rock that could only have been formed in a volcano. Pettyjohn (One word not two) Cave is named after her family. There are also several online articles affirming that Pigeon is a volcanic range with two extinct and one dormant volcano. My only concern is that with all the dormant volcanos coming to life, Pigeon may too!!!
Bill Stuart says
Hello Wes, I’m going to weigh in here. Yes, I have been to Pigeon Mountain, accompanied by a geologist from the area. I asked about the volcano and was told that the geology of the area (sandstone and limestone) are not volcanic geology. As for Pettyjohn Cave, it is limestone eroded by water according to the geologist. You can contact UT Chattanooga for further information on the geology.
Bonny says
Hi Bill, you may want to take a look at a geologic map of Pigeon Mountain. It is not a dormant volcano. It is composed mostly of limestone (hence the deep caves) and other sedimentary rocks. The article you are referring to is listed on the USGS website under “Non-Volcano Eruptions.” There are lots of reasons “volcanic” eruptions were wrongly reported, you can read more on the USGS website.
Bill Stuart says
Hi Bonny,
Thanks for the information. Based on what you (and others) have told me, I did further research and am sending out an update tomorrow saying that my original information was incorrect and Pigeon Mountain sadly isn’t a volcano.
douglas carson says
Thanks for correcting your information. I wish it truly was a dormant volcano, as I own property at the base of Pigeon Mountain, and could use a little geothermal energy for my cement pond.
All I have is red clay stained from the iron deposits, and limestone rock shelfs.
katrina Hardin says
Great info. I found you as I was resurching unexplained underground fire at Georgia Airport yesterday, my theory is putting the spot light on possible facts of our changing earth and the possibility of earth temperature and movement being related to Fires.
Bill Stuart says
Hi Katrina! Were you trapped at the airport? If so, you have my sympathies and I hope you made it where you were going!
sheryl campbell says
On March 31st I have a group meeting at the Pigeon Mountain Grill at 9am to go with a Geologist , Author, Botanist, archeologist to different spots on Pigeon mountain. If anyone would like to hear his take on The Geology etc. can come along. Be sure and check with the ga DNR to see if you need a pass to go on the state lands. Please sign up here if you plan on attending: https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=43571355096
Bill Stuart says
Hi Sheryl! I’m going to do my best to make it for this. I’d love to hear more about Pigeon Mountain!
Bill Stuart says
Hi Sheryl, When I click on the link, it tells me I’m not authorized for the event. Any ideas?
Abe Allen says
Part of your information is correct and some is incorrect.
The Pigeon mountain chain is indeed not a volcanic chain. The actual volcanoes are.not.part of the chain as can be verified by the google map image or the usgs image. The actual volcanoes are between the mountain ridges and are distinct in their origin. I have personally been to and explored these myself and was amazed at what I found. These formations actually pushed through the sedimentary formations of the Pigeon chain as I found actual crystalline quarts remnants from some of the vents while exploring the old mining tunnels. If you consider the origings of this chain then the small volcanis formations along the fault are not a suprize. The USGS is actually correct in their report that these are extinct and dormant volcanoes. They are real and free for you to comfirm on your own before you make incorrect assumptions… Please.. Come and see for yourself. They are real and they are here. Come and enjoy.
douglas carson says
The whole idea of the Pigeon Mountain spur off of Lookout Mountain is an elaborate hoax, promulgated by a fellow named Richard Thornton. he is still a true believer in the cinder cones and pumice, even though a few geologists have refuted his claims. At his website, People of OPNe Fire, he regularly purges any comments form anyone who has evidence against the bogus idea of a part of the sedimentary Cumberland Plateau is a chain of volcanic cinder cones, and lava tubes filled with diamonds.
My family owned a large portion of that mountain and sold it to the DNR, and as a member of the Walker County Cave Rescue team we have done huge amounts of exploration and surveying there. Not a volcano. I love to climb volcanos, and have been on several of them in Central America and Japan, and Pigeon Mountain has not been igneous since the Cambrian Period.
Bill Stuart says
I did a follow up post on Pigeon Mountain earlier this year after a visit. Here’s the link: https://www.williamlstuart.com/2018/05/01/pigeon-mountain-revisited-still-not-a-volcano/
Jonathon Potts says
I live not far and would love to see this. If you could please send me an email. Thank you
douglas carson says
Except that the USGS does not report that any of the geologic formations in Walker County are volcanic in origin.
The ridges between the Lookout, Pigeon, and John’s Mountains are remnants of the anticlinal mountains that were there, pushed up by the tectonic collisions of the continents hundreds of millions of years ago.
Only shales and limestone, with small deposits of crinoidal iron ore are in these ridges, ALL are sedimentary in origin. Quartz is common in limestone , mostly in the form of flint and geodes. Microcrystalline quartz appears as nodules of chert in the marine limestones of Walker County.
Bill Stuart says
Hi Douglas, Yes, I mentioned that in my update on this post and actually visited the area with a geologist and confirmed first hand that it wasn’t volcanic.
douglas carson says
I meant to respond to Abe Allen’s comment. He is not correct when he assigns quartz deposits to only volcanic origins. The micro-crystalline quartz that eroded from the volcanic mountains much farther to the East was deposited along with the limestones and shales, and the heat and pressure made them coagulate into chert nodules , flint, and quartz geodes.
Abe Wesley Allen says
They are real and free for the viewing. They are not however part of the pigeon chain. They are between the pigeon chain. The USGS was(and not suprisisingly correct) in their assement of it being a volcanic inclusion.
Spike Page says
Hi.
I always enjoy following up these articles about the “Georgia volcano” around the internet. Thank you for your disclaimer, but also for keeping the original article intact. The “legend” of the volcano is a real curiosity to me, because generally in legend there lies a grain of truth. While just about everyone (with the exception of a few internet cucks) agree the mountain shows no volcanic composition, I cannot imagine the reports posted in various newspapers being part of a hoax. I have often wondered if something DID occur on the mountaintop that might have confused locals into believing they were seeing a volcano. Possibly it could have been a buildup of natural gases igniting, an unusual concentration of heat-lightning, or even (stretching the boundaries into the absurd) a moonshine still explosion cover-up. I suppose this late in the game we’ll never find out, but I will keep an eye out for any new archived stories that might shed more light on the subject.
douglas carson says
The only reference to a Pigeon Mountain volcano was from an unverified article from New York. A few miles from Augusta
No local Georgia or South Carolina news papers mentioned anything about it, even though it would have been a sensational story for the time.
John L Felbinger says
Never knew there was volcanos in Georgia. Thank you for the information. Makes for another weekend hiking trip!
Bill Stuart says
Hi John, as my post shows, I was wrong about the volcano at Pigeon Mountain. I even visited with a geologist and confirmed it isn’t a volcano. However, I understand it has some amazing tunnels if you like to go spelunking!
David says
I live near and hike this area frequently. It’s not uncommon for me to pick up obsidian in chunks and flakes. Periodically, minor (<2.5) will shake the area at depth. These are rarely felt. On the west side of Lookout Mtn in Dade County Georgia, I encounter sulfur smells and find additional obsidian deposits.
Bill Stuart says
Interesting!
douglas carson says
The sulfur is from natural sedimentary deposits, with both the layers of iron ore and coal having sulfur in them. There is even a Sulfer Springs in Dade County. But not connected to volcanic events.
Obsidian is not found in the North Georgia area, but flinty chert nodules are very common in the Fort Payne Chert limestone. The flint is sometimes very black. [6.5-7 on the Ohs test]
Real obsidian tests as much softer on the Mohs scratch test, {5-5.5] and it flashes gold and black when in sunlight because of the refraction of the gas bubbles in it.
The minor earthquakes are due to the decompression of the Cumberland Plateau as the overburden erodes away, and releases pressure. The limestone is faulted,crossfaulted, and thrust faulted in the McLemore’s Cove area.
Christopher Parker says
Where are the sources? Some people say that these are volcanoes, others deny it. Unfortunately, no one on either side is providing sources for their information. I’m not trying to be negative (and I’m certainly not trying to put anyone down), I just want to see the actual documentation proving it one way or the other.
Bill Stuart says
Hi Christopher,
The best answer I can give is that I went to Pigeon Mountain and spent a day with a geologist. We discussed the geology of the area and it is sandstone and limestone. Since neither of those are part of a volcanic geology, it would appear unlikely. However, I suggest contacting University of Tennessee Chattanooga’s geology department and they might be able to provide more information.
Thomas Young says
Hello.
Today I was going from Buena Vista Georgia to Butler GA and as I was going down the highway I would stop where I saw rode cuts of red clay and just look around. I found what looked like geodes but I busted them open there was small loose rocks (purple and black). Everything that I could find online says that it’s volcanic. They are everywhere and I’m going back this weekend to get more. I can send you pictures. What do you think?
Bill Stuart says
Hi Thomas. That is just north of my old stomping grounds in SW GA. I would love to see pictures. As I understand it, Georgia is not known for geodes, so it will be interesting to see.
Stacy says
I’m constantly outside wandering around in the local creeks and have found many different things ranging from gorgeous agate geodes, to possibly fossilized bison teeth (no bio smell after the heat test), a super cool fossilized flowerbud (no heat test required!!) And of course, the countless fossilized ocean sponges, thermal vent worms and giant clam shells. Even found an old collapsible tin drinking cup from the Civil War. Georgia is truly amazing!!
Bill Stuart says
Yes, it is amazing! I grew up in South Georgia where we had a lot of clay and not much rock like we do in North Georgia. The contrast between the two areas is interesting, but I think I prefer the mountains to the flat part of the state!
David Bechler says
I am a retired biologist and live north of Pigeon Mtn on top of Lookout Mtn. While hiking the property we own, I have found two large pieces of iron ore rock, which I have brought home. I have found numerous small to medium sized rocks, mostly sandstone, that appear to have iron (Fe) in them as they are reddish in color or have red veins of color running through them. I have often wondered what the sources could be of such material. One idea I have had is that volcanos that might have been involved in the development of other areas could have skewed the iron rocks into the area when the Cumberland Plateau was developing, which Lookout and Pigeon Mountains are considered to be part of based on some research. Also, distant volcanos could have spewed fine particles of iron into the atmosphere which then came down on the developing Cumberland Plateau and become embedded in the developing sandstone layers.
Bill Stuart says
Hi David. My wife is a VSU grad, so neat to see you here and thanks for stopping by. From my conversations with geologists, the area up there is limestone and sandstone, not volcanic. The iron ore, again from my understanding, is a natural part of the geologic formation and Pigeon Mountain had a thriving iron ore past. Tennessee Chattanooga has a good geology department and this is the response I got from one of their professors about Pigeon Mountain:
Spoiler alert…it’s not a volcano. Although from Chattanooga, it certainly does look like the shape of a volcano, no volcanic processes were involved in its formation. This shape occurs simply because of erosion and the perspective of the viewer. The rocks of Pigeon Mountain are a sequence of sedimentary rocks starting at limestones at the base and moving up to sandstones and conglomerates at the top. After these rocks formed, the rocks of the region were crunched up during a significant mountain building events towards the east. This caused the rocks of Pigeon Mountain to also get bent slightly into something we call a syncline (concave up fold) which has influenced how it has eroded over time. Pigeon Mountain has very similar geology to Lookout Mountain and Walden’s Ridge. It is a great place for caves (because of the limestones) and it also is a great place to view a sequence of rocks deposited millions of years ago from when the area was under the ocean and recording when it shallowed into an above sea level delta setting with large river systems (you can find plant fossils up in the sandstones and conglomerates).
Kay Sie says
Hi Bill. I noticed the rounded tube-looking things in the Petty John’s Cave photo. Are those fossilized trees or metal tubes related to pumping water out of the cave or something else? I tried finding more information online but came up with nothing. Any ideas? Thanks!
Bill Stuart says
Hi Kay, I can’t say as I haven’t been in the cave myself. it could be either.