View allAll Photos Tagged GeologicalFormations
"Antelope Canyon - Series 08" by Patti Deters. Sunlight shines bright through a narrow crevice into a vibrant, red-hued slot canyon, illuminating the narrow path below. The smooth, wavy walls of sandstone create an intricate play of light and shadow, adding to the surreal beauty of the scene. Lower Antelope Canyon is a popular red rock slot canyon in southwestern USA. The canyon is located in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, near Page, Arizona and is a great adventure if you're ever in the area. Thank you for viewing this image. If you like outdoor travel photography, please see similar images, including landscapes and some nature abstracts, at patti-deters.pixels.com/featured/antelope-canyon-series-0....
"Moeraki is now most famous for its boulders; mysteriously spherical stones scattered across a beach. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and is up to two metres high.Scientists explain the boulders as calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago. According to Maori legend, the boulders are gourds washed ashore from the great voyaging canoe Araiteuru when it was wrecked upon landfall in New Zealand hundreds of years ago." newzealand.com
"Canyon Majesty: Exploring the Breathtaking Badlands Landscape of South Dakota"
This awe-inspiring photography image transports viewers to the magnificent canyons of the Badlands in South Dakota, where nature's sculptural prowess is on full display. The image captures the raw and rugged beauty of the landscape, offering a glimpse into a world of mesmerizing geological formations.
Website With Prints available at: james-insogna.pixels.com/featured/canyon-majesty-breathta...
Instagram: instagram.com/strikingphoto/
iGallery: James.Insogna.pixels.com
Portfolio: www.JamesInsogna.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/StrikingPhotographyByBo/
Twitter: twitter.com/bophoto
YouTube www.youtube.com/theeLightningMan
Flikr: www.flickr.com/photos/thelightningman/
Stay Connected Subscribe to our E-Mail List
New Mexico Colorful Enchantment - Waiting for just the light at the right time of day in the Golden Hour gives a most rewarding view of northwest New Mexico landscapes in the mountains when the plants and trees are at the peak of the new growing season.
A dramatic view of Maletsunyane Falls in Semonkong, Lesotho, cascading into a deep rock pool surrounded by steep cliffs. Powerful waterfall scenery perfect for nature, landscape, and adventure themes.
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.
A quick snap of the famous profile of the Rock of Gibraltar taken from the car window while waiting at the Spanish border.
The Edge of the World near Riyadh is one of Saudi Arabia’s most breathtaking natural wonders. Towering cliffs drop dramatically into the vast desert floor, creating endless views that seem to stretch beyond the horizon. Watching the golden light paint the rugged landscape is an unforgettable reminder of the raw beauty and scale of nature
Not far from the Kuniya carpark, this rock formation looms like a giant one-eyed ogre guarding the entrance to the Mutitjulu Waterhole.
© Irwin Reynolds, all rights reserved. If you are interested in using one of my images or would like a high quality fine art print, please send an email to irwinreynolds@me.com.
This is such a peaceful beach and a great place to swim with the warm waters of the river spilling into Lake Superior.
Camera - Nikon D700
Lens - Nikon16-35mm
Exposure -1/120sec
Focal length -22mm
Aperture - f/11
ISO Speed -200
Quality - raw processed in capture NX2
© Copyright 2012 John McCormick , All Rights Reserved
Please also check out my Instagram All my photographs are © Copyrighted and All Rights Reserved. None of these photos may be reproduced and/or used in any form of publication, print or the Internet without my written permission.
My first visit to Abiqua Falls did not disappoint, despite the low water flow. The basalt amphitheater walls curve around to form a nearly perfect symmetrical bowl, the pool beneath following suit.
This waterfall is a must-go for me come winter. I'd love to get a snowy photograph, but my Honda Civic isn't gonna cut it. Simply getting to (near) the trailhead on that "road" was hair-raising to say the least.
Pretty Plantation Point. One of my local stomping grounds. This part of the point changes noticeably a few times a year. Sometimes these rocks are covered completely with the pure white sand and then the tides change and the sand is stripped away exposing the rocks and electric green moss. It really is quite awesome and quite stunning on a day like today with the blue sky and crystal clear aqua ocean.. Yep the fire is still burning you can just see it on the horizon...the park should be open again on Friday although there isn't much left of it and no one knows yet the fate of a rare and endangered Bandicoot that was only reintroduced into the park last year...