Hi George:My daughter...
Question
Hi George:
My daughter is doing a report for school, and she needs to know
how different rock types affect climbing rules.
Thank you for any information you can give us.
Sincerely,
Gloria
Answer
Dear Gloria---I assume that you are asking how different rock types effect the climbing--if not--mail me back.
As a geologist who has looked at this issue--and written a paper on it for a Tucson Rock Guide--I am prepared.
Here is a quick overview:
1. Limestone is the most common rock for sport climbs. Limestones are massive, and when fractured, the cracks tend to fill-in with calcite. So, most limestone involves climbing pockets and edges--Lime stone with more silica tends to have more edges--wout--more pockets.
2. Alpine climbing often involves "chrystalline" rocks like granite and gneiss. Traditionally these routes follow fracture systems and often involve crack-climbing.
3. Sandstone can be edge-dominated climbing, as at the titled beds of the Garden of the Gods or Patashtin Pinnacles in WA, or crack-dominated, as at Canyonlands.
4. Volcanic rocks often entail climbing cooling fissures, as seen in basaltic columns.
For more, just ask specifics.
Good Luck--George
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