what exactly is a "dome"?

Discussion Topic

Return to Forum List

This thread has been locked

Messages 1 - 20 of total 67 in this topic

<< First | < Previous | Show All | Next > | Last >>

Nate D

Trad climber

San Francisco

Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 25, 2004 - 05:19pm PT

Yes, stupid question (but I'm actually quite serious).

Is there a geologic definition of the word "dome", or is it just a descriptive term used liberally by the individuals responsible for naming these formations throughout the sierra?

Call me obsessed, but what I really want to know is if, for instance, the following formations/outcrops are considered "domes", despite their names:

Mount Watkins
Lover's Leap
Bunnell Point
Liberty Cap
Kolana Rock
Fuller Buttes (Southern Yosemite)
Eagle Beaks (Southern Yosemite)
Buck Rock (Sequoia)
the Obelisk
Mt. Starr King
Moro Rock
Tollhouse Rock

etc. etc. etc.

Some of these appear to be "domes", but now I beg the question, was El Cap a dome at one time? Or is it still to be considered a dome in geologic terms? Are slabs partially exposed on vegetated hillsides (Reed Pinnacle, Tollhouse Rock, etc) to be loosely considered domes? Are domes simply granite formations which are exfoliating in a certain manner, or which have a definite "peak" or high point? (Please excuse that I don't speak geology.)

Mineral? Anyone?

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Mar 25, 2004 - 08:16pm PT

dome 1. An uplift or anticlinal structure, circular or elliptical in outline, in which the rocks dip gently away in all directions. A dome may be small, e.g. a Gulf Coast salt dome, or many kilometers across, as in the type structure, the Nashville Dome of Tennessee. 2. Any smoothly rounded landform or rock mass that roughly resembles the dome of a building, e.g. the rounded granite peaks of Yosemite, Calif. 3. A circular bulge, several kilometers wide and a few hundred meters high, in mare regions of the moon. 4. An open crystal form consisting of two nonparallel faces that intersect along and astride a symmetry plane. 5. lava dome 6. volcanic dome

Reference:

Bates, R. L., and Jackson, J. A., 1984, Dictionary of Geological Terms, 3rd ed.: Anchor Books, New York, 571 p.

Nate D

Trad climber

San Francisco

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 25, 2004 - 09:03pm PT

Perfect, thanks!

Ever come across a complete catalog/list of all the domes in the Sierra, including the unnamed ones?

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Mar 25, 2004 - 09:56pm PT

No, why... are you working on one?

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 25, 2004 - 11:06pm PT

Here are my favorite domes...where are they?(Don't cheat)

Clayman

Trad climber

Mar 25, 2004 - 11:10pm PT

maruolumne, fairview, lembert? great photo, where did you take it from?

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 25, 2004 - 11:16pm PT

No...it is in an area I call "Little Tuolomne". Does kind of look like Tuolomne though.

T Moses

Trad climber

Paso Robles

Mar 26, 2004 - 02:01am PT

Power Dome at Courtright Reservoir. With Punk Rock and Voyager in the background on the left. It was awesome in late September. Welcome to Courtright goes up the middle of Power Dome, a three star.

T Moses

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 26, 2004 - 02:07am PT

Yessir, Mr. Moses is a winner. The Courtright/Wishon area is absolutely fabulous...a lifetime of stone to explore and hardly anyone around. Late September is when I took the pic...

Moses, how did you fair in the quake? I live a couple of miles south of you.

T Moses

Trad climber

Paso Robles

Mar 26, 2004 - 02:13am PT

It was like land surfing! I was two blocks from the buildings that collapsed. Talk about your geologic event! We cleaned the house for a day and a half, glass and stuff everywhere. No structural dammage though. I am a bonafide veteran (I did the Loma Prieta while living closer to the epicenter).

How about you? You must have felt it.

T Moses

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 26, 2004 - 11:53am PT

I was at Hunter Ranch GC with my dad..."land surfing" totally describes it! My golf cart was knocked up onto two wheels and my dad had his hands out keeping his balance...totally looked like he was surfing. About 40 seconds into the whole thing, the ground split right in front of my dad and a section about 80-100' long and about 20' wide separated and slid down the hill into the lake...pretty weird!

At home we had jars busted all over the floor. It chucked the lids off the toilet tanks and splashed the water out. It threw the goldfish out of the pond in the back yard and they were flopping all around. CD collection scattered all over the bedroom, etc. No major structural damage. My good friend a mile away had 250k damage to his house. With no earthquake ins, he's screwed.

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Mar 26, 2004 - 11:58am PT

Yeah, I’m with whoever said it…

Just shut up and take pictures… and don’t arrest me!

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 26, 2004 - 12:02pm PT

Brian, I am thinking of hanging up the camera(getting too expensive) and just spending my spare time spreading the truth on these forums..whaddya think?

Minerals

Social climber

The Deli

Mar 26, 2004 - 12:03pm PT

Hey, I said SHUT UP!!!!!!

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 26, 2004 - 12:20pm PT

Stop yelling at me, it scares me.

Nate D

Trad climber

San Francisco

Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2004 - 02:22pm PT

Yes Mineral, I actually am attempting to make a list. Pretty daunting task, however.

Jody, Nice photo, but the Courtright domes were too easy, let's see some more. (If I could figure out how to post an image that resides on my computer, than I'd send a few mystery domes. Although I couldn't take credit for the photos.)

Oh, and Mr. Moses wasn't completely correct, as the domes in the background are Punk Rock, Penstemon Dome, and Dusy Dome. (Voyager Rock is out of the frame.) A great and quiet place for sure.

Jody

Mountain climber

Mar 26, 2004 - 03:05pm PT

"A great and quiet place for sure."

That is why I don't talk about that area anywhere but in obscure forums that nobdy reads.:)

Nate...the pic has to be hosted on a website(If they are yours, just open a free account at photo.net). Then right click anywhere on the pic, left click on "properties", then copy the url between [ img ] url here [ /img ]....without the spaces.