Stone Mountain (North Carolina)

Stone Mountain
Stone Mountain
	Stone Mountain view from the park falls.
Highest point
Elevation	2,305 ft (703 m)
Prominence	600 ft (180 m)
Geography
Location	Alleghany / Wilkes counties, North Carolina, U.S.
Parent range	Blue Ridge Mountains
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike or rock climb
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated	1974

Stone Mountain is the centerpiece of Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina. It is a dome of exposed granite (specifically a quartz diorite to granodiorite) of Devonian age, which has intruded into the gneiss of the Precambrian Alligator Back Formation.[1] It rises sharply over 600 feet (183 m) above the surrounding terrain. The mountain, which has an elevation of 2,305 feet (706 m) above sea level, is known for its barren sides and distinctive brown-gray color, and can be seen for miles. The mountain offers some of the best rock climbing in North Carolina, and the park's creeks and streams feature excellent brook trout fishing.

Stone Mountain c. 1910

Sample of the granodiorite. Scale bar in upper right is 1 cm.

Because the mountain is the best example of a monadnock in massive granite in North Carolina it was designated a National Natural Landmark in May 1974.[2]

References

North Carolina Geological Survey, 1985, Geologic map of North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, scale 1:500000.
National Park Service. "Stone Mountain: National Natural Landmark". Retrieved June 20, 2008.

36°23′37″N 81°02′36″W

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[1] North Carolina Geological Survey, 1985, Geologic map of North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, scale 1:500000.

[2] National Park Service. "Stone Mountain: National Natural Landmark". Retrieved June 20, 2008.