View allAll Photos Tagged quartzite
- www.kevin-palmer.com - As I made it above the trees on Quartzite Peak, the views became even better.
Commentary.
Another view from the southern summit of Ben Nevis.
Layers of glen, hill, mountain and moorland cascade into the distance, culminating in the distinctive pyramidal peak of Schiehallion, in Perthshire, between Lochs Rannoch, Tummel and Tay.
The quartzite summit of Sgùrr a’ Bhuic is middle ground
and the deep valley separating Nevis from Aonach Beag, is in the foreground.
On a clear day almost half of the Highlands and Islands
can be enjoyed from nearly 4,500 feet.
I could spend hours identifying every mountain and landmark.
In reality, however, one only spends 20-30 minutes taking refreshments, in order to get back to base camp before it gets to twilight.
13 hours, 5 kilometres, 9,000 feet of ascent and descent at 30-40.°
I nearly cried with joy when I eventually had that long-awaited pie and a pint.
Devil's Lake State Park, Wisconsin, USA. The bluffs bordering Devil's Lake State Park create the illusion of a lake in a mountainous area because of the cliffs and large rocks on the slopes below them. The Lake lies in the Baraboo Range which scientists believe was formed 1.6 million years ago, making the exposed rocks one of the most ancient rock outcrops in North America.
Made of quartzite, a hard metaphoric rock, the cliffs are fractured by freeze-thaw cycles to form the large rocks on the slopes below. Mixed conifer-deciduous forests grow on the soils of the slopes. Beneath the West Bluff, the Tumble Rocks Trail lies at the juncture of the rocks and forest with the lake.
Looking northeastward at the center wing of the old Cameron mansion, now part of this facility''s complex of buildings.
This grand Italianate villa, perched atop South Mountain, looks like a worthy subject for my series on fieldstone structures. But the Center's own website description states that the bouldery, somewhat coursed, somewhat rubble-set rock exterior was quarried, not collected from loose surface rock.
And the source quarry was located on a "nearby ridge." In fact, the stone is the Antietam Quartzite, of Cambrian age. From the US Geological Survey description of the Antietam Formation, I gather it's a metaquartzite (originally sandstone that was subsequently metamorphosed) rather than an orthoquartzite (unaltered sandstone cemented with silica).
However, the metamorphism was not intense enough to obliterate the Antietam's characteristic trace fossils, marine-organism sediment boring tubes of the ichnogenus Skolithos. The rock is variously described as white, light gray, and weathering to a buff tone. The material on display seems to bear all that out.
If my Pennsylvania bedrock map is not deceiving me, the Antietam Formation outcrops in this neck of the woods on a ridge to the north of this site. It's not surprising that it forms a topographic high; quartzite is tough stuff and resists erosion better than many other types do.
In my travels in this state and Maryland, I have absolutely fallen in love with South Mountain, which despite its name is the northernmost portion of the scenic and historic Blue Ridge Province that stretches down all the way to Georgia. The effect South Mountain had on troop movements and dispositions during the American Civil War, especially in the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, was significant, to say the least. And its geology is so thoroughly fascinating.
And here at Kings Gap, one of its most interesting rock units is on display in a striking and publicly accessible architectural setting.
Commentary.
Another view from the southern summit of Ben Nevis.
Layers of glen, hill, mountain and moorland cascade into the distance, culminating in the distinctive pyramidal peak of Schiehallion, in Perthshire, between Lochs Rannoch, Tummel and Tay.
The quartzite summit of Sgùrr a’ Bhuic is middle ground
and the deep valley separating Nevis from Aonach Beag, is in the foreground.
On a clear day almost half of the Highlands and Islands
can be enjoyed from nearly 4,500 feet.
I could spend hours identifying every mountain and landmark.
In reality, however, one only spends 20-30 minutes taking refreshments, in order to get back to base camp before it gets to twilight.
13 hours, 5 kilometres, 9,000 feet of ascent and descent at 30-40.°
I nearly cried with joy when I eventually had that long-awaited pie and a pint.
Quartzite is a common, crystalline-textured, intermediate- to high-grade metamorphic rock. It forms by metamorphism of quartzose sandstones or siltstones. Quartzite can be entirely composed of interlocking quartz crystals, or the original sand grains may still be visible. This rock is hard (H = 7), will not bubble in acid (unlike marble), and can be almost any color.
The term “quartzite” has been used in geology to refer to crystalline, quartzose metamorphic rocks and to hard, well-cemented quartzose sandstones that have not been subjected to metamorphism. It is difficult to not call hard, well-cemented sandstones “quartzite” - for example, the Clinch Quartzite in the Appalachian Mountains and the Eureka Quartzite of the Great Basin in western USA, but the Clinch and Eureka aren’t metamorphic rocks. The term "metaquartzite" has been used by some geologists to refer to crystalline-textured, quartzose rocks that have been metamorphosed. This implies that “quartzite” be restricted to well-cemented, non-metamorphosed sandstones. I don’t often see the term metaquartzite in the geologic literature.
The whitish quartzites seen here (interpreted as part of a metavolcanic unit) are Piedmont metamorphic basement rocks in Virginia. They are exposed in the footwall almost adjacent to a half-graben's eastern boundary fault, a normal fault (= obscured by vegetation at this locality). The hanging wall (a little north of this spot) consists of siliciclastic sedimentary rocks representing Triassic rift basin fill. The half-graben is the Danville Basin (Dan River Basin).
Locality: Oak Ridge Farms Road Exit Ramp Outcrop - roadcut along both sides of north-bound exit ramp off Route 58, just west of the town of Vandola & west of Danville, southern Pittsylvania County, southern Virginia, USA (36° 34’ 30.09” North latitude, 79° 31’ 20.13” West longitude)
The red quartzite sarcophagus, that was inside the four gilded wooden shrines. And inside this sarcophagus was three coffins, of which the innermost was pure gold.
Tomb of Tutankhamun, KV62 - 18th dynasty.
Valley of the Kings, Luxor
Yew wood and quartzite
Roos Carr, near Withernsea, East Yorkshire
1100–500 BC
These figures with dazzling quartzite eyes and removable phalluses travel on a serpent-headed boat.
They were deposited in a waterway...Their shields and three crewmates were found together, contained in a box.
[British Museum]
Taken during from the exhibition
The World of Stonehenge
(February to July 2022)
Towering above the Wiltshire countryside, Stonehenge is perhaps the world's most awe-inspiring ancient stone circle.
Shrouded in layers of speculation and folklore, this iconic British monument has spurred myths and legends that persist today. In this special exhibition, the British Museum revealed the secrets of Stonehenge, shining a light on its purpose, cultural power and the people who created it.
Following the story of Britain and Europe from 4000 to 1000 BC, visitors learned about the restless and highly connected age of Stonehenge – a period of immense transformation and radical ideas that changed society forever.
The human story behind the stones revealed itself through a variety of fascinating objects. Among these were stone axes from the North Italian Alps, stunning gold jewellery and astonishing examples of early metalwork including the Nebra Sky Disc – the world's oldest surviving map of the stars. A remarkably preserved 4,000-year-old timber circle dubbed Seahenge also took centre stage in the show, on loan for the very first time. All these objects offered important clues about the beliefs, rituals, and complex worldview of Neolithic people, helping to build a vivid sense of life for Europe's earliest ancestors.
Informed by ground-breaking recent archaeological and scientific discoveries, this landmark exhibition offered new insight on one of the world's great wonders, bringing the true story of Stonehenge into sharper focus than ever before.
[British Museum]
Quartzite sandstone statue of Seti II, created in Egypt about 1200 to 1194 BC. Found in the Temple of Mut at Karnak, Thebes.
Seti is shown offering a shrine to the god Amun. The shrine itself is decorated with the ram's head, symbol of Amun. On Seti's brow is the uraeus, or rearing cobra -- which protects him. Between his legs is a bull's tail, a symbol of strength. The papyrus and lotus images on his throne symbolized Upper and Lower Egypt.
Reigned 2029-1982 BCE.
Sumerian (Ur III period)--or modern? (See doubts here)
Quartzite with mica and chlorite.
Anonymous loan from a private collection, apparently overseas (pdf).
On display at the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, USA: Anonymous Loan 5.2015.
The Bureau of Land Management announces the start of construction of the Desert Quartzite solar project near Blythe in eastern Riverside County, advancing the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to combat the climate crisis by supporting the development of renewable energy. This photo represents a simulation of what the final project will look like.
Photo courtesy of Desert Quartzite, LLC.
The lower slopes of An Ruadh-Stac from Bealach a' Choire Ghairbh, the col between it and Maol Chean-dearg.
Fluvially-polished quartzite in the Precambrian of South Dakota, USA.
Extensive outcrops of pinkish, Paleoproterozoic-aged quartzites are present at Falls Park along the Big Sioux River in the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The quartzites here have nicely water-worn, sculpted surfaces. These rocks are part of the Sioux Quartzite, which consists of 1.65 to 1.70 billion year old metamorphosed sandstones. Despite the metamorphism, original sedimentary features such as horizontal stratification, cross-bedding, and ripple marks are still preserved.
The Sioux Quartzite is an erosion-resistant unit in America’s midcontinent. It has formed a long-lived paleotopographic high since Precambrian times - the Sioux tectonic core. This high is part of a northeast-to-southwest trending series of paleotopographic highs & depressions known as the Transcontinental Arch, which extends from Arizona to Minnesota (see Carlson, 1999).
Quarries of Sioux Quartzite occur in southeastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota. The rocks are used as building stone, road gravel, sidewalk and paving gravel, and erosion control material.
The shiny areas on this Sioux Quartzite surface are fluvial polish. During times of energetic flow by the nearby Big Sioux River, abrasion from sediments have eroded, scoured, smoothed, and polished the rocks. Naturally polished rocks can also form by glacial action (glacial polish), faulting (structural polish or fault polish), and wind action, which results in ventifacts.
Stratigraphy: Sioux Quartzite, upper Paleoproterozoic, 1.65-1.70 Ga
Locality: Falls Park, near Sioux Falls along the Big Sioux River in the town of Sioux Falls, southeastern South Dakota, USA
------------------
Reference cited:
Carlson (1999) - Transcontinental Arch - a pattern formed by rejuvenation of local features across central North America. Tectonophysics 305: 225-233.
Fragment of quartzite relief, with the cartouche of the divine sun disc, the Aten.
Hieroglyphs: '...in his name as Shu, who is in the Aten, given life for ever and ever.'
[New Kingdom (18th Dynasty) | Amarna | Manchester Museum | Acc. No. 1914 | 17.5 x 13.5 cm]
Fragment of a purple quartzite balustrade from a small shrine, carved on both sides with an image of King Akhenaten offering to the sun god, Aten. The king's crown was originally inlaid with glass or semi-precious stone.
Maru-Aten temple, Tell el-Amarna.
Text: THE ASHMOLEAN MUSEUM - OXFORD
Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna or as Tell el-Amarna) (Arabic: العمارنة al-‘amārnah) is an extensive Egyptian archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city newly established and built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty (c. 1353 BC), and abandoned shortly afterwards. The name for the city employed by the ancient Egyptians is written as Akhetaten (or Akhetaton—transliterations vary) in English transliteration. Akhetaten means "Horizon of the Aten".
The Amarna art-style is unique among the Egyptian world for its more realistic depiction of its subjects, instead of the strict idealistic formalism universal in Egyptian art up until that point, as well as for depicting many informal scenes such as the royal family playing with their children. Although the worship of Aten (often referred to as the Amarna heresy) was completely suppressed, the artistic legacy had a more lasting impact. The art broke with a number of important long-established Egyptian conventions. These included intimate portrayals of affection within the royal family, and the abandonment of portraying women as lighter coloured than men. The art also has a realism that sometimes borders on caricature.
Text: WIKIPEDIA
5 quartzite arrowheads for hunting birds, rabbits, and even deer. Such arrowheads achieved great levels of penetration, making them effective in the hunting of large animals despite their small size.
Native American. Found in Collection
ACC# 80.241.1
See other indigenous peoples tools, utensils and weapons at flic.kr/s/aHskTPFNZd.
(Photo credit Bob Gundersen www.flickr.com/photos/bobphoto51/albums)
A colossal quartzite statue of Tutankhamun. Usurped by Ay and Horemheb.
Large traces of paint that remain on the statue hint at its original vivid colors.
This statue probably had a pair and stood with it at his mortuary temple. Originally, Tutankhamun´s name was carved on the belt but his successor, Ay, inscribed his name over Tutankhamun´s. Soon after, Ay´s own name was replaced by that of his successor, Horemheb.
Today, over 3,3000 years after his death, King Tutankhamun is the most famous of all the pharaohs. His name is spoken around the world, assuring the once-forgotten boy king of his immortality.
Tutankhamun treasures of the golden pharaoh. Saatchi Gallery, London.
GEM2223
All of the artworks from the sculptor´s workshop discovered by Ludwig Borchardt have the charm of work in progress about them. The surface polish on the life-size quartzite head of Nefertiti is missing, giving the face the appearance of being shrouded in a very thin veil. The colour composition of the eyes and lips is only an interim stage, and would have been sacrificed to additional work of the surfage.The head was meant to be added to a statue made from different materials. A long pin under the neck was supposed to attach it to the shoulders, and the huge pin on top of the head was designated as the fixing for a crown.
18th dynasty, Amarna.
ÄM 21220
Neues Museum, Berlin
Photographed at the Discovery of King Tut exhibit at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon.
Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum, March 2010
The left part of the head is original. The right part is a cast of a fragment in Luxor Museum. Anepigraphic; attribution to Thutmose III on stylistic grounds.
APM 1387. New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, reign of Thutmose III (15th century BCE). Provenance unknown. Quartzite. H 27.5 cm.
In eastern South Dakota and SW Minnesota our roads are pink because the gravel is made of quarried pink quartzite (jasper).
Quartzite head of Amenhotep III, recovered in 1821 from the site of his mortuary temple at Kom el-Hetan, near Thebes.
British Museum, London.
■ Arquitectura Negra's (Black Architecture's) rural stone house at Majaelrayo, a small village in Guadalajara (Castile-La Mancha, Spain) near mount Ocejon. It was built using mainly slate and assorted quartzites.
Taken handheld with my Panasonic Lumix TZ7 (ZS3) in strong available backlight in the afternoon ( 35 mm, F4, 1/160 sec., ISO 80, EV -2/3 ).
■ Casa rural de piedra de estilo Arquitectura Negra en Majaelrayo, un pequeño pueblo de Guadalajara al pie del monte Ocejon. Fue construida utilizando principalmente pizarra y cuarcitas diversas.
Tomada a pulso con una Panasonic Lumix TZ7 (ZS3) en abundante contraluz ambiente al atardecer ( 35 mm, F4, 1/160 sec., ISO 80, EV -2/3 ).
Wheeler Peak has an impressive headwall above a large glacial cirque, large moraines and an active rock glacier. The top of the mountain is covered by deep snow most of the year. A paved road runs from the Great Basin National Park visitor center to several small camping areas, the highest more than halfway up the mountain. The mountain's prominence is due to a Miocene detachment fault that brought the deep Cambrian Prospect Mountain quartzite to the top of the mountain.
Box Canyon is a narrow gorge carved into the Uncompahgre Quartzite by a mostly hidden 85-ft waterfall. The Proterozoic formation, about 1.7 billion years old, is the basement rock in this part of the San Juan Mountains. Ouray, Ouray Co., Colorado.
Dunlewey Church of Ireland 1853. The church is built of white marble and blue quartzite which was quarried locally. Textures by Ghostbones.
The north-west ridge of Mt. Sir Donald in Roger's Pass is one of Steve Roper's "Fifty Classic Climbs of North America". I had the good fortune to climb it with good friends in glorious weather back in 1981. The quartzite provided lots of friction and sometimes small ladder-like holds. The exposure was spectacular! The air this day allowed for some very clear images.
My blog of our 1981 climb of Sir Donald with pictures.
As always, thoughtful feedback, constructive criticisms, and suggestions are always appreciated. As always, I have used tools at my disposal to interpret the original raw file. Use of this photo without permission is not permitted.
Therme Vals, Peter Zumthor's masterpiece in Vals, Switzerland, is made from local quartzite stone and bermed into the slope beneath a hotel that it is connected to.
Summit of Mount Logan,Clinton County, within the Mount Logan Natural Area of Bald Eagle State Forest.
The 500-plus-acre natural area protects the forested slopes and summit of Mount Logan, a prominent peak on Bald Eagle Mountain. The slopes contain masses of talus; at the summit is a narrow, jumbled outcrop of Tuscarora quartzite.
The forest is a mix of old-growth and second-growth hardwoods, white pines, and hemlocks. Many trees at and near the summit are stunted from the harsh microclimate. The north slope preserves a small tract of old-growth hemlocks.
So, this is my last image for the George Island series (at least I think it is! Lol) . I should probably, in parting, tell you a little bit about the landscape… lol
George Island is an island across from the small and quaint village of Killarney, Ontario. The Killarney Provincial Park paper states that “The Sportsman’s Inn offers a ferry service to the trailhead for a small fee”.
The first time we ever ventured on The George Island Trail adventure, we were indeed expecting a ferry ride. …ummm, It is actually about a 20 second water taxi across the inlet. Lol I’m pretty sure that I could swim it faster than the time it takes to get an attendant’s attention. Lol Typically you just toss the driver a toonie for a gratuity. It will hopefully ensure that he looks for you when you want a ride back → but we pass him a $5 just to be sure that he remembers us! Lol
The trail is really lovely, but we now just ignore the signs and head for the back of the trail (take it in reverse) to get to the beautiful little lagoons all the faster. We always take a picnic and swimsuits along, but remember that this is Georgian Bay. The water is kinda cold! Lol
In the photo above, you’ll note the ‘mountains’ in the distance. Those are actually white quartzite ridges and they are the ‘stubs’ of mountains. Two billion years ago there was a ring of mountains that towered higher than our western Rocky Mountains and some even believe that they were taller than Mount Everest. In the last million years we have had four ice ages that have scraped those mountains down to what you see today. Cool huh? =^D
Wait for my next series when I show you the view from the top! =^D
Thank you for all of your kind comments, visits, faves and invites. I do appreciate you taking the time to stop by for a wee visit. ♥ =^D
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Statue of Neferhebef
Quartzite
New Kingdom
Egypt of Glory exhibition, Amos Rex Art Museum, Helsinki
From the collection of Museo Egizio, Turin, Italy
9.10.2020-21.3.2021