In this episode I explore the spires and walls made up of pyroclastic breccia in Pinnacles National Park, and why the rock is notoriously chossy.
Link To Episode: https://soundcloud.com/quinn-todzo/trbtc-episode-9-pinnacles-national-park
My Photos:
https://imgur.com/gallery/5EL0vW5
Mountain Project links to climbs mentioned in the episode:
https://www.mountainproject.com/area/105734228/monolith - the monolith
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105867099/ordeal - 5.8 rated Ordeal on Discovery Wall
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105735368/the-wet-kiss - 5.9 rated Wet Kiss
https://www.mountainproject.com/route/105735095/portent - 5.6 rated Portent
Sources used in the episode
Useful Info from the national park website
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/geologicformations.htm
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/geologicformations.htm
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/faults.htm
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/how-pinnacles-formed.htm
https://geologyscience.com/rocks/breccia/ - basics of breccia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/1065735595900373#:~:text=In%20fresh%20concrete%20a%20watercement,interfacial%20transition%20zone%20(ITZ). - Describes Interfacial transition zone in concrete
https://en.cnki.com.cn/Article_en/CJFDTotal-GXYB200401013.htm - more on disintegration of the interfacial transition zone
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0008884603002059?via%3Dihub - suggests porosity increases with increasing aggregate size
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/structural-engineering/research/structural-materials/microcracking/ - microfractures initiate in the transition zone
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/nature/raptors.htm - raptors
https://www.nps.gov/pinn/learn/historyculture/civilian-conservation-corps.htm - civilian conservation corps
https://www.volcanocafe.org/volcano-at-fault-neenach-and-the-art-of-moving-mountains/ - pinnacles formation theory
https://www.usgs.gov/natual-hazards/volcano-hazards/pyroclastic-flows-move-fast-and-destroy-everything-their-path - pyroclastic flow
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451912X17300272 - breccia terminology
