Sunday, March 23, 2008

Picture of the Day - Sierra Nevada Foothills

Spent a third straight weekend with students and fellow geologists in the field. I was pleased with the telephoto that allowed me to get an angle on a relatively inaccessible outcrop. I know I could just explain it, but so many of you seem to enjoy the challenge, so...what's going on here?

Happy Easter, and a good spring-time to you all!

Update: Ron is absolutely right about the columnar jointing. What kind of volcanic rock, and why is the rock forming a flat-topped ridge?

3 comments:

Ron Schott said...

I see columnar jointing...

Kim said...

Is it an example of inverted topography? A lava flow filled a valley, and then became stronger than the rock on the former ridgeline, so the rivers excavated the old ridgeline and left the old valley high and dry?

Silver Fox said...

Is that one of the foothill latites?