Geological exfoliation of granite at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Texas, USA

Exfoliation in geology is a weathering process, mainly caused by freeze-thaw cycles. In this process, hard rock like granite forms several kilometers below the surface as magma slowly cools and crystallizes. The granite is under great pressure due to overlying rock. Then, granite is rapidly uplifted to the surface during a mountain-building event. During the mountain building process, the overlying rock is stripped away by erosion as the granite is uplifted. With the overling rock removed, the pressure on the granite is reduced. The granite expands and fractures. These fractures, called sheet joints, develop parallel to the Earth's surface. The granite erodes in concentric layers (similar to the way an onion peels) forming rounded masses called exfoliation domes. One famous exfoliation dome in the United States is Half Dome. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1360, 2712 KB) Summary Taken by Wing-Chi Poon on 2nd April 2005 in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area of Texas, USA. The photo clearly shows the geological exfoliation of granite dome rock. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1360, 2712 KB) Summary Taken by Wing-Chi Poon on 2nd April 2005 in the Enchanted Rock State Natural Area of Texas, USA. The photo clearly shows the geological exfoliation of granite dome rock. ... Weathering is the process of decomposition and/or disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through natural, chemical, and biological processes. ... Weathering is the process of decomposition and/or disintegration of rocks, soils and their minerals through natural, chemical, and biological processes that is, in place. ... Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... Orogeny is the process of mountain building, and as such is both a tectonic structural event, a geographical event and a chronological event, in that orogenic events happen within a time frame, affect certain regions of rocks and crust, and cause distinctive structural phenomena and related tectonic activity. ... For fractures in bones, see Fracture (bone). ... Binomial name Allium cepa L. Onion in the general sense can be used for any plant in the Genus Allium but used without qualifiers usually means Allium cepa L., also called the garden onion. ... Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, possibly the Valleys most familiar sight. ...

See also: Spheroidal weathering Spheroidal weathering is a type of physical and chemical weathering that creates rounded boulders and helps to create domed monoliths. ...