FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[trtlman]

Didn't where to post this I didn't think it really fit any where so I am posting it here, I was in the Columbia River Gorge area just out with a friend exploring going here and there just getting out and at this one rest stop there was this big rock coming up from the earth, looks like a shale because of how it's just breaking apart any how there was this white spot on in I couldn't tell what it was, it looked like moss or mold growing on it. So I climbed up the best I could, when I was younger I could have made it all the way up but I have become less active these days, any how when I got up to the spot I noticed it was some kind of exposed mineral, looked like a granite or something of the sort. Any how here are a couple pics of what I found hope you find it as interesting as I did.

[trtlman]

And across the street from this exposed rock was some other exposed rock wall what looks to be some sort of shale like I said before with the other one because of how fragile it is, any how I'm not really looking for a identification just sharing my expedition, I found nothing interesting to take home with me unfortunately maybe next time

[Ben Webb]

The Columbia River Gorge is a beautiful place to explore, but there's not much granite or shale around. Most of the rocks exposed along the gorge are basalt. If you're interested, pick up a book called "Roadside Geology of Oregon".

https://www.amazon.com/Roadside-Geology-Oregon/dp/0878420630
(link normalized by FMF)

I think what you're seeing in your second picture is speroidal weathering of basalt. I always think that looks very cool.

[trtlman]

Thank you for that information and the book suggestion. I will try to find that book as I do enjoy what the Columbia River Gorge has to offer

[trtlman]

I got to thinking today, and I know this is rather far fetched but could that actually be a very large geode of some sort? I was thinking about geodes and how they are formed and it occurred to that this small rock structure might be hollow, but then again I could be wrong.