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Does Stone Mountain granite underlie a) half of Georgia, b) all of Georgia, c) 7 states, or d) your backyard?
Does Stone Mountain granite underlie a) half of Georgia, b) all of Georgia, c) 7 states, or d) your backyard?
None of the above! Well, you have a slight chance if your property borders the park to the east.
Stone Mountain has 500 acres of exposed rock, 2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. It extends east underground for 9 miles.
But the rock I found looks just like Stone Mountain! It's probably the same type of rock (granite), but just not Stone Mountain.
Is Stone Mountain the largest exposed granite in the world?
Is Stone Mountain the largest exposed granite in the world?
False!
Even though Stone Mountain rises about 1686 feet above sea-level (786 feet above the surrounding land), it is not the largest in the world.
However, it can claim to be the largest east of the Mississippi River.
For those of you wanting proof, here are some examples of some larger exposed granites:
Enchanted Rock in Texas at 1,825 feet
Stawamus Chief in British Columbia, Canada at just over 2,300 feet
El Capitan in Yosemite National Park at 3,000 feet
Was Stone Mountain a volcano?
Was Stone Mountain a volcano?
Nope.
Stone Mountain formed deep within the Earth. Magma slowly cooled and crystallized into the igneous rock granite.
A volcano is formed when magma and trapped gases explode at the earth's surface. The molten rock that is spewed forth builds the volcano. In the case of Stone Mountain Granite, magma collected anywhere from 6-10 miles under the surface of the earth and cooled. Weathering and erosion of the metamorphic rock above exposed the granite which forms Stone Mountain.
BONUS FACT
Molten, hot liquid, rock below ground is magma. When this molten rock reaches the surface, it has a new name: lava.
Are holes like the ones in the above photo made by lightning strikes?
Are holes like the ones in the above photo made by lightning strikes?
The rounded holes, called weathering pits, are products of weathering, not lightning.
They are formed at softer spots in granite (where the composition of minerals is a bit different causing it to be weaker) and water collects in these areas on the mountain. The trapped water mixes with organic acids from plants, and the solution further dissolves (weathers) the granite to form these rounded depressions.
Was the Cyclorama ever housed at Stone Mountain?
Was the Cyclorama ever housed at Stone Mountain?
Once again, the answer is no.
On February 22, 2019, the Cyclorama was unveiled at the Atlanta History Center after spending over a century in Grant Park (near Zoo Atlanta).
Before its life in Grant Park, the Cyclorama spent some time in private collections.
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