Stone Mountain is a stock of granite that originally crystallized deep in the interior of the earth.
On the walk up trail of Stone Mountain you can see various weathering features. Within this picture you can see exfoliation as well as chemical weathering features on the surface of the rock.
You can see in this picture run-off channels which moss and algae have grown in the moist region and have caused the rock to chemically weather more rapidly than the surrounding rock. (The small child is now [as of May 16, 1997] 10 years old. Thank you Megan for your legs for scale in this photograph)
Within this photograph you can see the sheeting or exfoliation (pressure release) within the granite. These large blocks of rock will eventually break free and slide down the exfoliation dome.
This is the carving of Stone Mountain.
Looking at a closer view of the carving you can see the effects of chemical weathering on the carving, you can see the mineral deposit streaks across the carving from the rock weathering. Eventually the carving will weather away in a few thousands to millions of years.
West of ParkHigh Resolution Photo West of Park
North of Park
High Resolution Photo North of Park
Directly over Park
High Resolution Photo Directly over Park
