The Pinnacles (Atherton Tableland) Explained

The Pinnacles (Atherton Tableland)[1]
Other Name:Seven Sisters
Type:Cinder cones
Photo Alt:Aerial view of the Seven Sisters, Atherton Tableland looking to the south-west
Map:Australia Queensland
Relief:yes
Label Position:left
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The Pinnacles (aka the Seven Sisters) are a series of seven volcanic cinder cones on the Atherton Tableland, near Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia. They were formed more than 350,000 years ago.[2]

The vents have an overall southwest-northeast alignment, which suggests that the ascending magma utilised a pre-existing fracture within the Earth's crust.[3] Several of the craters are breached to the southeast, possibly due to the prevailing southeast winds blowing ash and scoria to the northwest and so building the cones more to that side. Parts of the rocky basalt flows are still densely forested and can be seen surrounding the Curtain Fig Tree.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Pinnacles. . Queensland Government Placenames . Queensland Government . 12 November 2019.
  2. Whitehead. P. W.. Stephenson. P. J.. McDougall. I.. Hopkins. M. S.. Graham. A. W.. Collerson. K. D.. Johnson. D. P.. 2007. Temporal development of the Atherton Basalt Province, north Queensland. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences. en. 54. 5. 691–709. 10.1080/08120090701305236. 0812-0099.
  3. Book: Rocks, landscapes & resources of the wet tropics. Geological Society of Australia, Queensland Division. Lottermoser, Bernd G., Willmott, W. F.. 2008. 9780975789483. Brisbane, Qld.. 271828487.