God's sculpture (I)

God's sculpture (I)

Near Mount Cheget - Those rocks where sculpted by avalanches and winds!
sylvainperron
on Nov 30, 2007 11:20 am
Image ID: 361409

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The Rock

The Rock - Jun 27, 2008 1:09 pm - Hasn't voted

Cooling joints

Hi,
i think these structures are not formed by avalanches and winds. They are cooling joints which are the result of cooling of a body of hot basaltic magma. Through cooling the lava-flow looses its volume while its density increases. Therefore joints like these are formed. Another indication is the hexagonal shape of these structures. This also counts for your other "Gods sculpture"-pics. The whole area is mostly volcanic as well as Mount Elbrus itself. It is a typical Stratovulcanoe of a (i think) pliocene age.
But at all your pictures are very good ;)
Tobi

sylvainperron

sylvainperron - Aug 15, 2008 2:36 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Cooling joints

Interesting! Apparently, our russian guide is not as knowledgeable as you are!

Thanks for your comments.

S.

Liba Kopeckova

Liba Kopeckova - Jul 25, 2010 3:14 am - Voted 10/10

It is basalt

and the photo was taken on the way from the village Terskol to the observatory, or to the waterfall - across from Cheget mountain. At least it looks to me like that.

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