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Black Hills Dome

By Geology and Ecology of National Parks 1978 (approx.)
Left: an ellipse represents the Black Hills dome. Its center is colored purple and titled "Central crystalline area". Mount Rushmore is located in the south-center part of this purple region. Around the purple region are rings of different colors which represent the different sedimentary rocks of the region. Right: the Black Hills dome as seen via satellite image.
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Detailed Description

A stratigraphic map (left) vs. satellite imagery (right) of the Black Hills dome. The stratigraphic map contains a cross-section at its center (outlined in black). Erosion of the top portion of the dome has exposed ancient rocks. As a result of uplift, rocks closer to the center of the dome are older than those closer to the perimeter. Mount Rushmore is located in the oldest region of rock: the crystalline core. NPS.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

Left image by A.N. Strahler, NPS.  Right image from Google Earth.

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