Geologic Sites around Stone Mountain
As you might expect, most rock around Stone Mountain is
granite or a close relative.
- U.S. 78 EB exit ramp to
Hugh Howell Road
(Thanks for the tip, Robin!)
- Cut faces in Stone Mountain granite; pegmatite veins.
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- Walking Trail
(Duh! The mountain, itself!)
- Beginning at the railroad station and visitors' center on
the mountain's west side, a walking trail ascends the least
steep slope, passing sparse pines, solution pits, exfoliation
slabs, pegmatite veins, tourmaline clusters, and megatons of
granite. Great view from the top.
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- Abandoned Quarries,
north and east sides of mountain.
- Old quarry works; xenoliths.
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- Yellow River Game Ranch
- Contact between Stone Mountain
granite and the Promised Land formation
is visible in saprolite
at the edge of an excavated area beside the Yellow River
Game Ranch entrance on U.S. 78.
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- Construction Sites
- Like much of suburban Atlanta, the Stone Mountain / Snellville /
Lithonia / Loganville area enjoys(?)
development at a deranged pace.
Environmentally and culturally questionable, but good for
opportunistic geologists. Stop at construction sites; dodge
bulldozers, and look at rocks.
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