1st Edition

Landforms and Geology of Granite Terrains

    362 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Granite is exposed over more than 15% of the continents, implying that its significance to the Earth’s surface is comparable to that of the carbonates. Landforms and Geology of Granite Terrains is devoted to this phenomenon and provides a comprehensive explanation of the landforms and landscapes developed on granitic rocks and forms. Whereas existing literature in the field predominantly deals with karst landscapes, this book is specifically focussed on granitic terrains.Landforms and Geology of Granite Terrains provides detailed considerations of the forms, major and minor, well-known and not so familiar granitic terrains, developed over large areas of the continents. It comprises interpretations which are of general significance in the analysis and understanding of the landscape and includes many theories in the context of granite landforms. The importance of structure, including crystal stresses, and the value of etching of subsurface initiation, multi-stages or two-stages development, neotectonic forms, solution forms is emphasized as well as the antiquity of some forms and surfaces (inherited forms). Morphogenetic forms are placed in perspective and comparison is made with similar forms in other rock types.This work is intended for geologists, geomorphologists, geographers and mining engineers and can serve both as a practical guide for professionals and as a textbook for university courses. Author, location and subject indices are included.

    Table of Contents; Preface and acknowledgements;

    1 Characteristics and foundations
    1.1 Typical landforms and landscapes
    1.2 Previous work
    1.3 Occurrences of granite
    1.4 Granite – definition and composition
    1.5 Physical characteristics
    1.6 Orthogonal fracture systems
    1.7 Fractures and drainage patterns

    2 Sheet fractures and structures
    2.1 Terminology
    2.2 Description and characteristics
    2.3 Theories of origin
    2.3.1 Exogenetic explanations
    2.3.2 Endogenetic explanations
    2.4 Summary

    3 Weathering
    3.1 Definition and significance
    3.2 Physical disintegration
    3.3 Chemical alteration
    3.4 The course of weathering in granite
    3.5 Controls of weathering

    4 Plains – the expected granite form
    4.1 Weathering and surfaces of low relief
    4.2 Plains of epigene (subaerial) origin
    4.2.1 Rolling or undulating plains
    4.2.2 Pediments
    4.2.3 Relationship between pediment and peneplain
    4.3 Etch plains in granite
    4.4 Very flat plains
    4.5 Multicyclic and stepped assemblages
    4.6 Exhumed plains
    4.7 Summary

    5 Boulders as examples of two-stage forms
    5.1 The two-stage or etching mechanism
    5.2 Boulders – morphology and occurrences
    5.3 Subsurface exploitation of orthogonal fracture systems
    5.4 Tectonic and structural forms
    5.5 Types of peripheral or marginal weathering
    5.6 Causes of peripheral weathering
    5.7 Evacuation of grus
    5.8 Boulders of epigene origin
    5.9 Summary

    6 Inselbergs and bornhardts
    6.1 Definitions and terminology
    6.2 Bornhardt characteristics
    6.3 Theories of origin
    6.3.1 Environment
    6.3.2 The scarp retreat hypothesis
    6.3.3 Tectonics and structure: faulting and lithology
    6.3.4 Variations in fracture density
    6.3.5 Differential subsurface weathering and the two-stage concept
    6.4 Evidence and argument concerning origins of bornhardts
    6.4.1 Contrasts in weathering between hill and plain
    6.4.2 Incipient domes
    6.4.3 Subsurface initiation of minor forms
    6.4.4 Flared slopes and stepped inselbergs
    6.4.5 Regional and local patterns in plan
    6.4.6 Coexistence of forms associated with compression/shearing
    6.4.7 Topographic settings
    6.4.8 Occurrence in multicyclic landscapes
    6.4.9 Fracture-defined margins
    6.4.10 Age of inselbergs and bornhardts
    6.5 Exhumed bornhardts and inselbergs
    6.6 Antiquity and inselberg landscapes
    6.7 Summary

    Other granitic residuals and uplands

    7.1 Isolated residuals
    7.1.1 Nubbins
    7.1.2 Castle koppies
    7.1.3 Large conical forms or medas
    7.1.4 Towers and acuminate forms
    7.2 Massifs
    7.3 Regions of all slopes topography
    7.4 Discussion

    8 Minor forms developed on steep slopes
    8.1 Flared slopes
    8.1.1 Description and characteristics
    8.1.2 Origin
    8.1.3 Changes after exposure
    8.2 Fretted basal slopes and other variants
    8.3 Scarp-foot weathering and erosion, and the piedmont angle
    8.4 Rock platforms
    8.4.1 Description
    8.4.2 Origin
    8.5 Scarp-foot depressions
    8.5.1 Description
    8.5.2 Origin
    8.6 Flutings or grooves
    8.6.1 Description
    8.6.2 Origin
    8.6.3 Surface or subsurface initiation?
    8.6.4 Inversion

    9 Minor forms developed on gentle slopes
    9.1 Rock basins
    9.1.1 Description
    9.1.2 Nomenclature
    9.1.3 Origin
    9.1.4 Differentiation of major types
    9.1.5 Evacuation of debris
    9.1.6 Rate of development
    9.2 Plinths and associated blocks and boulders
    9.2.1 Description
    9.2.2 Origin
    9.3 Pedestal rocks
    9.3.1 Terminology
    9.3.2 Origin
    9.4 Gutters or runnels
    9.4.1 Terminology
    9.4.2 Description
    9.4.3 Origin
    9.5 Rock levees
    9.6 Rock doughnuts
    9.6.1 Description
    9.6.2 Origin
    9.6.3 Evidence and argument
    9.7 Fonts

    10 Caves and tafoni
    10.1 General statement
    10.2 Caves associated with corestones and grus
    10.3 Caves associated with fractures
    10.4 Tafoni
    10.4.1 Description
    10.4.2 Process
    10.4.3 Stages of development
    10.4.4 Case-hardening and other veneers
    10.5 Speleothems

    11 Split and cracked blocks and slabs
    11.1 Split rocks
    11.1.1 Description
    11.1.2 Origin
    11.2 Parted and dislodged blocks
    11.3 Dislocated slabs
    11.3.1 A-tents
    11.3.2 Overlapping slabs
    11.3.3 Displaced slabs
    11.3.4 Chaos
    11.3.5 Wedges
    11.3.6 Origin of the forms
    11.3.7 Relationship of A-tents and pressure ridges
    11.4 Polygonal cracking
    11.4.1 Description
    11.4.2 Previous interpretations
    11.4.3 Evidence
    11.4.4 Explanations
    11.5 Tesselated pavements

    12 Zonality, azonality and the coastal context
    12.1 Introduction
    12.2 Lithological zonality and azonality
    12.3 Climatic zonality and azonality
    12.4 The coastal context

    13 Retrospect and prospect

    Author Index; Location Index; Subject Index.

    Biography

    Charles Rowland Twidale is presently a Visiting Fellow of the University of Adelaide, South Australia, and Honorary Professor of the University Institute of Geology "Isidro Parga Pondal" of the University of Coruña.

    Juan Ramón Vidal Romaní is specialized in the interpretation of the origin of granitic forms in relation to their geodynamic environment. He is a Professor in Geodynamics at the University of Coruña and Director of the University Institute of Geology, "Isidro Parga Pondal".