Red Top Mountain State Park
Lake Allatoona
Near Emerson, Georgia

Allatoona Dam impounds the Etowah River to form Lake Allatoona, which surrounds Red Top Mountain. A State Park occupies the resulting island. Within the park, many outcrops and boulder fields expose megacrystic Corbin meta-granite and darker, finer-grain meta-igneous Red Top Mountain formation. In some areas, Red Top Mountain formation is sheared to a schistose texture.

Both formations are well-exposed along the lake shore, particularly during winter when water level is low. Iron-rich Red Top Mountain formation weathers to a distinctive red soil. Corbin meta-granite weathers to a more tawny saprolite with relict quartz granules.

Approaching the State Park at the west end of Bethany Bridge, you may see intrusive contact between Corbin meta-granite and Rowland Spring formation.

Saprolitic sheared Red Top Mountain formation
Red Top Mountain Road approaching State Park,
Emerson, Georgia
(Pointing trowel for scale)

Boulders of Red Top Mountain formation
Near cottages, Red Top Mountain State Park,
Lake Allatoona, Georgia
(Eyeglasses for scale)

Boulder of Corbin Meta-Granite
Typical of many along road shoulder in Red Top Mountain State Park,
Lake Allatoona, Georgia
(Keys for scale)