Granite is an igneous rock that is crystalized during molten magma melts. Silicic melts help form granite which in turn becomes huge parts of a continental crust. Therefore granite is a silicic rock and contains quartz and feldspar. Quartz veins in granite in the North Georgia mountains can contain gold deposits which has an important history in this area. The first gold mint of the United States was in nearby Dahlonega Georgia . Granite is only exposed thru uplift and erosion. It is often found in linear belts associated with ancient subduction zones. Granite has many uses in building due to its density and hardness. This particular wall is used by Army Rangers to practice rappelling. It is dangerous so please don't attempt to climb After a rain small waterfalls appear. Please enjoy the view. Looking south there is a huge valley surrounded by a wall of mountain ridges. A few miles up the road is a crossing for hikers on the Appalachian Trail. Also please drive carefully as cyclists and motorcyclists use this area due to the curves and vistas.
Granite /ˈɡrænᵻt/ is a common type of felsic intrusive igneous rock that is granular and phaneritic in texture. Granites can be predominantly white, pink, or gray in color, depending on their mineralogy. The word "granite" comes from the Latin granum, a grain, in reference to the coarse-grained structure of such a holocrystalline rock. By definition, granite is an igneous rock with at least 20% quartz and up to 65% alkali feldspar by volume.
The term "granitic" means granite-like and is applied to granite and a group of intrusive igneous rocks with similar textures and slight variations in composition and origin. These rocks mainly consist of feldspar, quartz, mica, and amphibole minerals, which form an interlocking, somewhat equigranular matrix of feldspar and quartz with scattered darker biotite mica and amphibole (often hornblende) peppering the lighter color minerals. Occasionally some individual crystals (phenocrysts) are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic texture is known as a granite porphyry. Granitoid is a general, descriptive field term for lighter-colored, coarse-grained igneous rocks. Petrographic examination is required for identification of specific types of granitoids.[1]
Granite is nearly always massive (lacking any internal structures), hard and tough, and therefore it has gained widespread use throughout human history, and more recently as a construction stone. The average density of granite is between 2.65[2] and 2.75 g/cm3
Outcrops of granite tend to form tors and rounded massifs. Granites sometimes occur in circular depressions surrounded by a range of hills, formed by the metamorphic aureole or hornfels. Granite is usually found in the continental plates of the Earth's crust.
Granite is currently known to exist only on Earth, where it forms a major part of the continental crust. Granite often occurs as relatively small, less than 100 km² stock masses (stocks) and in batholiths that are often associated with orogenic mountain ranges. Small dikes of granitic composition called aplites are often associated with the margins of granitic intrusions. In some locations, very coarse-grained pegmatite masses occur with granite.
Granite has been intruded into the crust of the Earth during all geologic periods, although much of it is of Precambrian age. Granitic rock is widely distributed throughout the continental crust and is the most abundant basement rock that underlies the relatively thin sedimentary veneer of the continents.
For log credit email answers to the followingquestions Question 1 . What type of rock is granite? 2. What is the density range for granite? 3. Walking the off road side of the white line how many paces long is the length of the wall (stopping at the dangerous curve sign)? 4. What is the approximate height of the wall at the highest point? Photos are not required. There are numerous scenic views though so feel free to post optional photos (that don't give away answers).
Questions:
Answers to be emailed to the CO( not noted in logs)
Congrats to Fanasfreaks for FTF!!!
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