From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Polygonal stone columns
Basalt columns seen on
Porto Santo Island , Portugal
Columnar jointing of
volcanic rocks exists in many places on Earth. Perhaps the most famous
basalt
lava flow in the world is the
Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, in which the vertical joints form
polygonal columns and give the impression of having been artificially constructed.
Notable columnar jointed volcanics
Africa
Bugarama in
Rusizi ,
Rwanda [
citation needed ] Columnar jointing in Rusizi district, Nzahaha Sector. This may have formed from contractional cooling of basaltic lavas.
Foreke Quarry, Foreke Dachang, Cameroon
Ikom Columnar Basalt in Cross River State, Nigeria
[1]
Numan, Nigeria
[2]
"Organ Pipes" near
Twyfelfontein ,
Namibia
[3]
Rochester Falls, Mauritius
Seliana, Tunisia [
citation needed ]
Isle de la Madeleine, Dakar, Senegal
Asia
Garni Gorge, Armenia
Curved columns of
rhyolitic
tuff at the Hong Kong High Island Reservoir
Interlocked basaltic columns at the top of Kavadia mountain at
Dewas district in India.
Columnar basalts at
Cape Stolbchatiy , Kuril Islands, Russia
Armenia
China (mainland)
Heiyuhe Columnar Joints (黑鱼河柱状节理) [Xianrenqiao (仙人桥)], Longchuan River (
龙川江 ) & Black Fish River,
Tengchong
Hong Kong
Basalt Island area, Hong Kong; including High Island Reservoir area, Hong Kong; although the
High Island Reservoir is not basalt but rhyolitic tuff, rich in potash feldspar and quartz phenocrysts.
India
In India, columnars are found in several places across the volcanic traps such as 6.5 crore or 65 million years ago (Mya) old
deccan traps in
South India and 14.5 crore or 145 mya old
Rajmahal Traps in
Eastern India .
Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh
Kavadia Pahad columnars: Forest area near Bagli & Pipari village of
Dewas District in Madhya Pradesh. The rock formation is at Kavadia Pahad which is a series of seven mountain ranges.
[5]
Linga columnars: 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) south of
Chhindwara city.
Narsinghpur columnar joints in Deccan Basalts near Narsinghpur.
Maharashtra
Telangana
Indonesia
Close up view of stones atop Gunung Padang
Panorama atop Gunung Padang
Iran
Japan
Natsudomari Peninsula ,
Hiranai, Aomori
Kawazu 7 waterfalls area, Izu Peninsula,
Shizuoka
Tōjinbō ,
Mikuni, Fukui
Genbudō,
Toyooka ,
Hyōgo
Takachiho-kyo gorge,
Takachiho, Miyazaki
Keya no Oto,
Itoshima, Fukuoka
Tatami-ishi ,
Kumejima ,
Okinawa
Malaysia
at Kg Balung Cocos, Tawau, Sabah
Basalt Columns exposed along a river in a remote place in
Tawau , Malaysia
In Teck Guan Cocoa Village and in Giram River, Kampung Balung Cocos
Tawau ,
Sabah ,
Malaysia .
Mongolia
Philippines
Russia
South Korea
Syria / Israel (disputed)
Meshushim River , with prominent hexagonal basalt columns
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Vertically jointed columnar basalt of
Basalt Rocks Natural Monument in Turkey
Vietnam
The Cliff of Stone Plates (Gành Đá Đĩa) near
Tuy Hòa city,
Phú Yên Province ,
Vietnam
Da Dia Cliff (
13°21′15″N 109°17′38″E / 13.354154°N 109.293812°E / 13.354154; 109.293812 ) — The Cliff of Stone Plates (
Vietnamese : Gành Đá Đĩa ),
An Ninh Đông Village ,
Tuy An District ,
Phú Yên Province ,
Vietnam
Yen Islet (
13°13′32″N 109°18′32″E / 13.225638°N 109.308770°E / 13.225638; 109.308770 ) (
Vietnamese : Hòn Yến )-
An Hòa Village , Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
Vuc Hom Fall (
13°11′48″N 109°09′03″E / 13.196571°N 109.150737°E / 13.196571; 109.150737 ) (
Vietnamese : Thác Vực Hồm ) -
An Lĩnh Village , Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
Vuc Song Fall (
13°11′06″N 109°08′59″E / 13.185074°N 109.149796°E / 13.185074; 109.149796 ) (
Vietnamese : Thác Vực Song ) - An Lĩnh Village, Tuy An District, Phú Yên Province
Battle Fall (
14°20′03″N 108°40′50″E / 14.334100°N 108.680464°E / 14.334100; 108.680464 ) (
Vietnamese : Thác Dơi ) -
Vĩnh Sơn Village ,
Vĩnh Thạnh District ,
Bình Định Province
Takon Citadel (
14°18′19″N 108°42′12″E / 14.305230°N 108.703357°E / 14.305230; 108.703357 ) (
Vietnamese : Thành đá Tà Kơn ) - K8 (old name: Kon Blò), Vĩnh Sơn Village, Vĩnh Thạnh District, Bình Định Province
Europe
Basalt columns in the
Rhön , North
Bavaria , Germany
Volcanic rock columns,
Milos , Greece
Ponta da Ajuda, Azores, Portugal
Basalt rocks near Detunata Goală east of
Bucium , Romania
Columnar
jointing in the basalt of the
Giant's Causeway in
Northern Ireland
Fingal's Cave, Staffa Island, Scotland
Croatia
Rupnica , Papuk Nature Park UNESCO Global Geopark, Croatia
Czech Republic
Faroe Islands
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Badacsony
Bér
Szanda
Szilváskő
Hegyestű
Szent-György-hegy
Gulács
Haláp
Hajagos
Uzsa
Iceland
Aldeyjarfoss ,
Þingeyjarsveit
Borgarvirki
Dverghamrar ,
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Gerðuberg
Hellnahraun near
Arnarstapi ,
Snæfellsbær
Hljóðaklettar ,
Jökulsárgljúfur
Kirkjugólf ,
Kirkjubæjarklaustur
Kálfshamarsvík ,
Austur-Húnavatnssýsla
Litlanesfoss ,
Fljótsdalshreppur
Reynisdrangar and
Reynisfjara ,
Vík í Mýrdal
Stuðlagil , East of Iceland
Svartifoss ,
Skaftafell
Italy
Alcantara River Gorges,
Sicily
Capu Nieddu ,
Cuglieri , Sardinia
Cuccureddu de Zeppara ,
Guspini ,
Sardinia
Is Aruttas Santas ,
Villaurbana , Sardinia
Cyclopean Isles , Sicily
Motta Sant'Anastasia neck, Sicily
The thrown stones , Lazio
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Giant's Causeway , Northern Ireland
The islands of
Canna ,
Eigg , and
Muck , Scotland
Cullernose Point, near
Craster , Northumberland, England
[19]
The northern part of the
Isle of Skye , Scotland
The
Isle of Mull and the nearby beach of
Morvern , Scotland
Samson's ribs , Scotland
Fingal's Cave and
Staffa , Scotland
Pen Anglas, Pembrokeshire, Wales
[20]
Ulva , Scotland
Cave Dale , Castleton, Peak District
North and Central America
Columnar
jointing in the basalt of the
Pain de sucre (sugar loaf) in
les Saintes , Guadeloupe
La Concepción, Aculco, México
Basalt columns in the Mascota River, Mexico
Basaltic Prisms of Santa María Regla in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo
Columnar basalt at
Devil's Postpile in California
Devils Tower , Wyoming
Canada
North Mountain , Nova Scotia
Grand Manan Island (western shorelines), New Brunswick
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park , British Columbia
Cardiff Mountain,
Chilcotin Plateau , British Columbia
Keremeos Columns,
Keremeos , British Columbia
Aberdeen Columns,
Lavington, British Columbia
Wells Gray Provincial Park , British Columbia (Moul Falls, Dragon's Tongue,
Helmcken Falls )
Mount Edziza volcanic complex , British Columbia
Level Mountain , British Columbia
Teapot Mountain, Prince George, British Columbia
Kelowna , British Columbia (
Mount Boucherie , Spion Kopje)
Devils Woodpile, British Columbia (Cathedral Provincial Park)
Tow Hill , British Columbia
Rouyn-Noranda , Quebec
Simpson Island, Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area,
Rossport , Ontario
Miles Canyon, Whitehorse, Yukon
Costa Rica
Bajo Rodriguez, San Lorenzo de San Ramon
El Salvador
Cascada Los Tercios, Suchitoto
Concepción waterfall,
Aculco
Greenland
Qeqertarsuaq, Disko Island
[21]
Guadeloupe
Mexico
Panama
United States
Akun Island , Alaska (54.1374618, -165.6120578)
Block Mountain, Montana (along the lower
Big Hole River )
Boiling Pots, Hilo, Hawaii (exposed by the Wailuku River)
Cascade Range ,
Oregon , in Eugene and southeast of Molalla
Columbia Plateau ,
Washington
Columns of the Giants ,
Stanislaus National Forest , California
Compton Peak in
Shenandoah National Park , Virginia
[23]
[24]
Devils Postpile National Monument , California
Devils Tower National Monument , Wyoming
Drumheller Channels National Natural Landmark , Washington
Elk River Falls, Idaho
Hughes Mountain ,
Missouri
Hyalite Falls,
Gallatin Mountain Range, Montana
Whiterock Canyon, New Mexico, various cliffs and mesas from Otowi to Cochiti.
Latourell Falls , Oregon
Mount Tom (Massachusetts)
Palisades Sill , New Jersey and New York, along the Hudson River
Paul Bunyan's Woodpile, Juab County, Utah
[25]
Sheepeater Cliff & multiple other areas in
Yellowstone National Park
Hemlock Falls, First Watchung Mountain,
[26]
South Mountain Reservation , South Orange, New Jersey
Spokane, Washington (W Airport Dr. onramp)
Stanford Rock ,
Lake Tahoe , California
Sweetwater Canyon,
Madison County, Montana
Toketee Falls , Oregon
Turtleback Mountain , Moultonborough, New Hampshire
Whatcom County, Washington
[27]
Oceania
Cape Raoul, Tasmania
Blackhead, Dunedin, New Zealand
Australia
Bombo Latite,
Bombo , New South Wales
Narooma Basalt,
Narooma , New South Wales
Fingal Head ,
New South Wales
Battery Rock Rest Area, Located on the
Golden Highway , 15 kilometres southeast of
Merriwa and 19 kilometres northwest of
Sandy Hollow on the western side of the highway.
[28] NSW
Sawn Rocks,
Mount Kaputar National Park , New South Wales
[29]
Glass House Mountains ,
Queensland
Burleigh Head National Park , Queensland
Mount Scoria Conservation Park ,
Thangool , Queensland
[30]
Ben Lomond National Park, Tasmania
Cape Raoul , Tasmania
Ruined Castle,
Falls Creek, Victoria
[31]
Organ Pipes National Park , Victoria
Barfold Gorge , Campaspe River, Victoria
Black Point,
D'Entrecasteaux National Park ,
Western Australia
Wyalup-Rocky Point,
Bunbury, Western Australia
[32]
Federated States of Micronesia
New Zealand
South America
Beyond Earth
Columnar jointed rocks in unnamed crater wall,
Marte Vallis region, Mars. Image courtesy of the
High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment ,
Arizona State University .
Several exposures of columnar jointing have been discovered on the planet
Mars by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (
HiRISE ) camera, which is carried by the
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Notable among them are formations in the
Marte Vallis .
[37]
Uses
A view of Gunung Padang
A likely Hindu-origin ancient site at
Gunung Padang in West Java, Indonesia was built by horizontally laying basalt columns to form terraces on the slope of a hill and creating open-roofed chambers by erecting vertical columns. A now-ruined thirteenth-century religious complex called
Nan Madol was built using columnar basalt quarried from various locations on the island of
Pohnpei in
Micronesia .
Hexagonal basalt was used to build retaining walls by early settlers in some places around
Dunedin in New Zealand.
Gallery
Engraving of a basalt formation; from:
Alberto Fortis , Della valle vulcanico-marina di Roncà nel territorio veronese (1778)
Basalt rocks on the Hirtstein in the
Ore Mountains
Basalt columns of
Porto Santo , Archipelago of
Madeira
See also
References
^ Udinmwen, E; Oden, M.I; Ukwang, E.E; Edu, E.S (2016).
"Structural Geometry of Ikom Columnar Basalt in the Ikom – Mamfe Basin, Southeastern Nigeria" . www.aiscience.org . Retrieved 2022-06-03 .
^ Ntekim, E. E. & Adekeye, J. I. D. (2003).
"Petrography and geochemistry of basaltic rocks from the northcentral part of Yola Basin, N.E. Nigeria" (PDF) . Nigerian Journal of Pure and Applied Science . 18 : 1430–1437. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-18 .
^ Grunert, Nicole (2000). Namibia: Fascination of Geology – A Travel Handbook . Windhoek: Klaus Hess. pp. 73–74.
ISBN
99916-747-8-0 .
^
Columnar Basaltic Lava, Coconut Island (St. Mary's Islands), Udupi District, Karnataka , Geological Survey of India.
^
"Rare rock formation found in Dewas" . The Times of India . 24 December 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2019 .
^
Rare basalt columns found in village in Kolhapur , Business Line, 6 Sept 2018.
^
a
b
c
d
Telangana: 6.5 crore-year-old basalt columns discovered in Adilabad forest , Times of India, 9 Aug 2021.
^
Columnar basalt formations found in Asifabad forests in Telangana , Indian Express, 6 June 2022.
^ Po, Kimberly (27 April 2014).
"H E L L O ♥ K I M M Y : Dunsulan Falls Of Bataan" . Hellowkimmy.blogspot.com .
^
"Bataan Day Trip: Mount Samat and Dunsulan Falls Itinerary" . Janegalvez.com . 27 February 2016.
^
"Bulingan Falls" . ChoosePhilippines.com . 28 August 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018 .
^
"Мыс Столбчатый" . www.webpark.ru . Archived from
the original on 2019-04-06. Retrieved 2013-09-28 .
^
ม่อนเสาหินพิศวง Wonderful Mountain Of Colunnar
Archived 2012-07-17 at
archive.today
^ Kölbl-Ebert, Martina; Colicchio, Stéphanie (2014).
"The Boyabat Basalt Cliffs" (PDF) . l'association de la Maison de la Géologie et de l'Environnement de Haute-Alsace. Retrieved 29 January 2017 .
^
"Panská skála" . Luzicke-hory.cz . Retrieved 26 December 2018 .
^
"PSt04 - Pico de Ana Ferreira" . geodiversidade.madeira.gov.pt .
^ Gobierno vasco.
"Basaltos de Fruiz" (PDF) . Inventario lugares de interés geológico en la comunidad autónoma del País Vasco (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 February 2016 .
^
La Gomera: basalt cliffs Los Organos , Commons.wikimedia.org
^ Hazelhurst, S Rennie (22 November 2012).
Northumberland . Cambridge University Press.
ISBN
9781107677500 . Retrieved 5 August 2022 .
^
"Jaw-dropping geology from Strumble Head to Cardigan" . National Trust . Retrieved 3 August 2022 .
^ Scott, Chris (31 October 2017).
"The Grand Canyon of the Arctic Circle" . CNN Travel . video by Effie Nidam, Diana Diroy and Chris Scott.
^
"México Travel Club" . www.mexicotravelclub.com . Retrieved July 15, 2020 .
^ Callan Bentley (14 November 2011).
"Compton Peak: superb columnar jointing" . Mountain Beltway. American Geophysical Union (Blog). Retrieved 24 July 2015 .
^
"Greenstone lava flows - National Park Service, Shenandoah National Park, Learn About the Park" . NPS.gov . 26 February 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2022 .
^
"GeoSights: Paul Bunyan's Woodpile, Juab County – Utah Geological Survey" . geology.utah.gov . Retrieved 2018-09-07 .
^
[1] Geology of the New York City Regions
^
File:Columnar basalt.jpg (Wikimedia Commons)
^
"Merriwa NSW Free Rest Areas" . highwaytraveller.com.au .
^
"Sawn Rocks, Mount Kaputar National Park" (PDF) . NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 19 February 2016 .
^
Mount Scoria culture
^
Ruined Castle - Panoramio
^
"Bunbury Basalt" .
Western Australian Museum . Retrieved 6 March 2021 .
^
a
b
"Black Head : Vegetation Condition After Quarrying" (PDF) . Doc.govt.nz . Retrieved 26 December 2018 .
^
"Basalt columns" . chathamislands.co.nz . Tourism Chatham Islands. Retrieved 11 February 2024 .
^
"New Zealand Tramper - A community for good, keen trampers and hikers" . Tramper.nz . Retrieved 26 December 2018 .
^
The Pinnacles, Mt Somers on flickr
^
"Mars and Earth: Columnar Jointing" . Earthobservatory.nasa.gov . 10 June 2009.