Rock Piles of Joshua Tree Park

May 28, 2004

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Provided by: David Woon
Summary authors & editors: David Woon

Joshua Tree National Park in southeastern California is filled with fascinating rock formations, many of which are composed of quartz monzonite. This is a very coarse grained rock -- a close cousin of granite. If you examine these rocks closely enough, you may find almost equal amounts of orthoclase and plagioclase feldspars. Picturesque rock piles, such as the one above, are found throughout the park, providing enjoyable climbing opportunities. A classic Joshua tree is seen in the left foreground.

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