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The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking, mostly hexagonal basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago. This site has been studied for 300 years and greatly influenced the beginnings of the discipline of geology.
It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
The old footbridge at Miles Canyon, near Whitehorse. After a week of warm weather, hovering around freezing, the thermometer took a tumble today and descended down to about minus fifteen or so degrees. Still pretty balmy conditions for a Yukon winter, but the drop brought with it a more wintry look. I took this photo after walking the trails to Miles Canyon from the Chadburn Lake Road. No one was to be seen and things were looking more seasonal than they have for a while now.
Photo taken with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and M.Zuiko 12-40mm f?2.8 Pro hand held.
Basalt columns at the beautiful Svartifoss waterfalls in Skaftafell National Park in South-East Iceland. If you're visiting, be sure to head to the west side of the river (ignore the signs to Svartifoss and head towards Sjonarsker and turn right down to Svartifoss when you reach the sign-post), as the view is obscured by trees and spray on the east side and there's no bridge across (at the moment).
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Lacada Point, otherwise known as The Chimney Stacks, at The Giants Causeway. It was here on the night of 26th October 1588 that the galleass of The Spanish Armada, La Girona, foundered on the rocks as it made its way eastward along the Irish coast resulting in the loss of 1300 lives.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking, mostly hexagonal basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption during the Tertiary, some 50–60 million years ago. This site has been studied for 300 years and greatly influenced the beginnings of the discipline of geology.
It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills.
This is the wide-angle shot of Svartifoss compared to the close-up featured below. The view shows how the basalt columns break off at their base. The place looks like a giant pipe organ.
The basalt columns at this black beach in Iceland are known as the Garðar Cliffs. Formed long ago, the basalt columns are the result of the rapid cooling of magma. Centuries ago when the dangerous Katla volcano erupted, the molten lava spread toward the North Atlantic Ocean. As the lava met with cool temperatures, a rapid cooling effect took over. Specifically, as the rocks hardened and cooled the hot volcanic rock began to shrink, pulling itself toward its center. Volcanic rock thus began to crack into regular geometric shapes. The process allowed the rock to harden into hexagonal rock formations.
Gerðuberg is a particularly beautiful and regular belt of hexagonal basalt columns on the Snaefellsnes peninsula.
Gerðuberg's lava flowed in the Tertier era. The columns are 14 meters at their highest and around 1-1,5 meters wide. Gerduberg is listed as a natural heritage.
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A rather frozen Svartifoss waterfall in the Skaftafell National Park in south-east Iceland. I preferred it the previous year when there was no ice. Having said that, the sound of one of those 10-foot long icicles falling down was pretty cool!
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At Svartifoss, in Skaftafell at Vatnajökull National Park. The upper lava columns gave rise to Svartifoss's name, which is Icelandic for "Dark Falls".
Photo by Elaine
Gerðuberg, Iceland, an impressive wall of beautiful basalt columns, forming geometric patterns in the cliffs. The columns are 14 meters at their highest.
During the cooling of a thick lava flow, contractional joints or fractures form. If a flow cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While a flow can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns.
These structures are predominantly hexagonal in cross-section. Slow cooling produces large columns like this.
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Images may not be copied or used in any way without my written permission.
I really didn’t get to explore and photograph the basalt as much as I would have liked because the skua kept attacking me with a vengeance. I covered my head with my fleece jacket and cursed myself for leaving my umbrella in the car. They sliced across my head more times than I can count but as far as I can tell, they didn’t actually cut me open. It hurt, though, and it was unnerving, so I finally yelled, “Okay, okay! I’m leaving! Jesus Christ!” and stomped back to the car.
Geology
Millions of years ago volcanism formed basaltic lava flows in the region, these flows played a significant role in shaping Australia’s southern coastline. Today the Bombo Headland is one of the most significant geological sites in New South Wales, its rock type and its formation features have technical significance to international scientists as it was formed when north and south magnetic poles were reversed. The headland consists of two rock types of the Gerringong volcanics, the Kiama Sandstone rock and the Bombo Latite rock, which were deposited about 260 million years ago during the early Permian period. Around 60 to 25 million years ago further volcanic activity created another layer of Basalt (Bombo Latite), which is overlayed on the headland. The later volcanic activity intruded the Bombo Latite in the form of dykes. The Kiama Sandstone rock has formed a narrow platform adjacent to the vertical cliff faces around the south-eastern extremity of the headland.
Basalt in the Headland
Basalt is a dark-coloured, fine-grained, igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals. It is most commonly formed as an extrusive rock, such as a lava flow, but can also form in small intrusive bodies, such as an igneous dyke or a thin sill. Within the headland there are examples of extrusive and intrusive formations due to the overlaying over various volcanic activity, if people know what they are looking for up to 5 dykes can be found while exploring the quarry. The main feature of the headland is the spectacular columnar jointing which is caused during the cooling of the thick basalt lava flows. The lava contracts as it cools, forming fractures/cracks, once a crack develops it continues to grow resulting in what you see in front of you. These columns and jointing are evident throughout the quarry with the isolated columns adjacent the ocean up to five metres in height. Much of the columns were left standing when the quarry was excavated to keep the sea out of the quarry. At the northern end of the wall cross sections of the columns result in a 'Giants Causeway' appearance.
Volcanic Breccia
To the untrained, volcanic breccia can often be mistaken as sedimentary conglomerate, the main difference being the type of rock and how they look. Conglomerate is composed of rounded fragments of pre-existing rocks while volcanic breccia is formed by the explosive volcanic eruptions trapping wall material in magma which results in fragmented rocks being entrapped in the flows. Lava may also pick up rock fragments, especially if flowing over rubble on the flanks of a volcano and this can also form volcanic breccia.
Volcanic Dykes
A dyke is an igneous intrusion formed when magma cools and solidifies before it reaches the surface. The magma pushes up towards the surface through cracks in the rock. Dykes form vertical or steeply in the rock and the dyke is always younger than the rocks which surround it. Dykes are usually visible because they are at a different angle and usually have different colour and texture to that of the rock surrounding them.
Kiama Sandstone
Seeing sandstone along the the eastern seaboard of Australia isn’t uncommon, however its surprising to see this unique feature of sandstone layered into a basalt headland. Geological history tells us that sandstone is prevalent to the region but in an area known for is volcanic activity it’s rare to see the two rock types together. The headland offers a great example of the two rocks as much of the sandstone in the area is normally below sea level except for a small narrow wave-cut platform visible from the quarry. A mixture of lava (basalt) and sediment like this is called peperite.
Mining the Basalt
In 1880 James Holt received a parcel of crown land in the Bombo area, soon afterwards the Bombo Headland Quarry commenced operation for the quarrying of blue metal. By 1883 a jetty was erected north of the headland. Steam crushing machines and equipment were installed and rail services were extended from Sydney to Kiama, including a spur into the quarry. The quarry and its transport ship SS Dunmore were operated by NSW Associated Blue Metal Quarries Ltd. The transportation of basalt to Sydney became known as the ‘Blue Diamond Trade’ and the dozens of small vessels carrying the blue metal became known as the ‘Stone Fleet’. Railways in the area in the late 19th Century reduced the reliance on shipping for transporting the blue metal and provided a more effective means of transportation. In 1930 the quarry closed for five years during the depression, by 1935 the quarry reopened and electric crushers and machines were installed. However in 1940 NSW Railways ceased quarrying at Bombo Headland and moved operations to the quarry on the western side of the railway line which is still operational today. Regrettably none of the mining history remains on site, the old tramway, jetty and crushers have all gone.
Stuðlagil is a section of the canyon that the river Jökulsá á Brú flows through in the Jökuldalur Glacier Valley, and that contains Icelands largest collection of basalt columns. It is 500 m long and contains 20-30 m basalt columns on both sides of the river. The canyon is very picturesque with blue/green water in the river flowing through it. Access to the canyon from both north (250 m walk from Grund farm) and south (10 km roundtrip hike from Hákonarstaði farm) sides is off Road 923.
Basalt columns are formed by a process called columnar jointing when still magma cools down. When it cools down, it contracts and separates into columnar joints, often hexagonal. The separation begins where the cooling is greatest and continues as the rest cools little by little. They usually stand perpendicular on the cooling surface.
Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
Vertorama of two images taken in landscape mode at 10mm on the Isle of Staffa. This sort of path is located just outside Fingal's Cave.
Perched dramatically on the edge of a triangular, cliffside promontory, the Greco-Roman Temple of Garni stands as a remarkable testament to antiquity. Completed in 77 AD and dedicated to the sun god Mithras, this classical colonnaded structure basks beneath a brilliant, cloudless sky. Having survived centuries of regional upheaval and a devastating seventeenth-century earthquake, it remains proudly as Armenia’s only surviving pagan temple.
Captured at a low angle to emphasise the immense basalt masonry and the symmetry of its majestic Ionic columns.
The basalt columns on the shores of the island Purkey in Breiðafjörður are of many different shapes and color. These look like a skyline of a big city if it wasn't for the grass on top.
I might have gone a bit to far in the color manipulation(?) but I was trying to get the horizontal stripes more prominent.
Reynisfjara black sand beach, Iceland
Black volcanic sands, smooth pebbles, unique rock formations, overall moody atmosphere and huge waves crashing on the shore!
Another example of the columnar basalt that can be commonly seen in Iceland. This exposure is at the Hestheimar farm & guesthouse near Hella.
Tula, Pyramid B, atlantes
Tula is a Mesoamerican archeological site, which was an important regional center which reached its height as the capital of the Toltec Empire between the fall of Teotihuacan and the rise of Tenochtitlan. It has not been well studied in comparison to these other two sites, and disputes remain as to its political system, area of influence and its relations with contemporary Mesoamerican cities, especially with Chichen Itza. The site is located in the city of Tula de Allende in the Tula Valley, in what is now the southwest of the Mexican state of Hidalgo, northwest of Mexico City. The archeological site consists of a museum, remains of an earlier settlement called Tula Chico as well as the main ceremonial site called Tula Grande. The main attraction is the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl which is topped by four, four metre high basalt columns carved in the shape of Toltec warriors. Tula fell around 1150, but it had significant influence in the following Aztec Empire, with its history written about heavily in myth. The feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl is linked to this city, whose worship was widespread from central Mexico to Central America at the time the Spanish arrived.
The Tula site is important to the history of Mesoamerica, especially the central highlands of Mexico, but it is generally overshadowed by its predecessor Teotihuacan and one of its successors, Tenochtitlan. The name Tula is derived from the Nahuatl phrase Tollan Xicocotitlan, which means 'near the cattails'. However, the Aztecs applied the term Tollan to mean 'urban center', and it was also used to indicate other sites such as Teotihuacan, Cholula and Tenochtitlan. The inhabitants of Tula were called Toltecs, but that term was later broadened to mean an urban person, artisan or skilled worker. This was due to the high respect in which the indigenous peoples in the Valley of Mexico held the ancient civilization before the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.
The modern archeological site is about 2000 meters above sea level and includes the ceremonial center of Tula Grande, and an area called Tula Chico. The city is aligned at 17 degrees east of true north, similar to structures at Teotihuacan although the first village was aligned with true north between 700-900CE. The ceremonial center of the city is located on a limestone outcropping, with steep banks on three sides, making it defensible. War and sacrifice are prominent themes at the site with images representing warriors such as jaguars and coyotes as well as eagles eating human hearts. There are also images of serpents eating skeletal figures and skulls in various areas. The main structures of the ceremonial center include two pyramids, including the one with the atlas figures, two main Mesoamerican ballcourts and several large buildings, one with a series of columns which faced a large plaza. The main ceremonial area has a number of architectural innovations that indicate societal changes. The large central plaza has space for 100,000 people. On three sides, there are long meeting halls with ceilings supported by columns all facing the plaza with over 1000 meters of benches, which have stone reliefs depicting warriors and others in procession. The architecture indicates a change from rituals performed by only a few people in closed spaces to large ceremonies to be viewed by many. These ceremonies were dominated by warriors.
The major attraction of the site is Pyramid B also called the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl or of the Morning Star. It is a five-tiered structure similar to the Temple of the Warriors at Chichen Itza. At the top of Pyramid B are four massive columns each carved in the likeness of Toltec warriors which once supported the roof of the temple on top of the pyramid. Each warrior figure is of basalt, four meters high, with an atlatl or spear thrower, incense, a butterfly shaped chest plate and a back plate in the shape of a solar disk. A large vestibule fronts the pyramid and connects it to nearby buildings. Today this vestibule and building (Building C) are a space filled with broken columns. Building C is better known as the Burnt Palace named after evidence that it was burned. This pyramid is also surrounded by the Coatepantli or serpent wall, which was later the inspiration for a similar structure in Tenochtitlan.
(source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tula_%28Mesoamerican_site%29)
Kirkjugolfid, The Church Floor; east of Kirkjubaejarklaustur village, Iceland
The basalt columns were formed when lava cooled and contracted, cracking the rock. When this happened, the lava broke apart evenly, creating the distinctive hexagonal shape.
What this waterfall lacks in size it more than makes up for in character. The pronounced dark basaltic cliffs not only helped to give the waterfall its name (translated as "Black Falls"), but it also inspired Icelandic architecture on some of its most famous buildings like the Halgrimskirkja in Reykjavik. On top of that, a visit to this Icelandic wonder also yields up to three more waterfall sightings as well as a short walk to the terminus of a glacier!
(World of Waterfalls)
Reynisdrangar are basalt sea stacks situated under the mountain Reynisfjall near the village Vík í Mýrdal, southern Iceland. more info under www.timvollmer.de
Just before returning home from London I travelled with Ryan and Adam to Ireland where we took a whirlwind wind tour accross about three quarters of the small, unique, and fascinating country. We spent one night in Dublin and then drove north to the small town of Shepards Bush. On the coast and a few miles from Shepards Bush is The Giants Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Giant's Causeway (known in Irish as Clochán an Aifir or Clochán na bhFómharach) is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The tops of the columns form stepping stones that lead from the cliff foot and disappear under the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides.
A very worthwhile trip if you are ever in the country.