| Buck Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Bucks Mountain | |
 Buck Mountain as seen from Buck Mountain Road | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,942 ft (592 m) |
| Geography | |
 | |
| Topo map | Nuremberg (for official coordinates) |
Buck Mountain (also known asBucks Mountain[1]) is amountain inColumbia County andLuzerne County,Pennsylvania, in the United States.[2] Its elevation is 1,942 feet (592 m) abovesea level. The mountain contains deposits ofcoal (specificallyanthracite). Shale and conglomerate are also present. The coal on the mountain was historically mined, altering the landscape somewhat. The mountain is believed to be named after Albert Ansbach, the owner of a nearbycolliery.
Buck Mountain has an official elevation of 1,942 feet (592 m), making it the fourth-highest mountain in Columbia County.[3]
Buck Mountain's official coordinates are in theUnited States Geological Survey quadrangle of Nuremberg.[3] The mountain is located in southeasternBeaver Township, Columbia County.[1]
A stream known asBeaver Run flows between Buck Mountain andMcCauley Mountain.[4] Buck Mountain is on the border of the Beaver Valley, some distance north of the community ofShumans.[5] Additionally,Falls Run, a tributary ofBlack Creek flows through Columbia County and Luzerne County, between the mountain and ahill known as Middle Hill.[6] The mountain has aspur.[7]
Buck Mountain contains deposits ofcoal.[1] Part of the landscape on Buck Mountain has been altered by mining in the past.[8]
There are beds of redshale on Buck Mountain. This shale underliesrock formations ofconglomerate. It also underlies beds ofanthracite on the mountain.[9]
A prominenthotel owned by Adam Michael historically operated at the base of Buck Mountain for a long period of time.[4] The hotel was opened in the early 1800s. TheReading Railroad historically had atunnel that passed through a spur of Buck Mountain.[7]
Coal mining has been done on Buck Mountain. Historically, it was done by the Buck Mountain Coal Company, but later, the mining was instead done by Coxe Brothers & Co. In the early 1900s, the mines were operated by theLehigh Valley Coal Company. In the early 1900s, the coal was sent to the community ofGowen. There, it was loaded ontorailroad cars and sent toHazleton, where it was put on the market.[7]
There are plans by several counties to construct awind farm on Buck Mountain.[10]
Buck Mountain was added to theGeographic Names Information System on August 2, 1979. Its identifier in the Geographic Names Information System is 1170524.[2]
Buck Mountain is most likely named afterAlbert Ansbach, who was nicknamed "Buck".[1] Ansbach was the owner of a nearbycolliery. The name was bestowed upon the mountain in 1869 or 1870.[1]
Numerous species use Buck Mountain as a habitat. However, the Columbia County Natural Areas Inventory states that surveys of the mountain have not been done.[8]
40°57′03″N76°12′27″W / 40.9509°N 76.2074°W /40.9509; -76.2074