巨人堤Giant27s-Causeway教学资料.ppt

巨人堤Giant27sCauseway

GeologyAround50to60millionyearsago,?duringthe?Paleogene?Period,Antrimwassubjecttointense?volcanic?activity,whenhighlyfluidmolten（流体熔融）?basalt?intrudedthroughchalk?bedstoformanextensive?lava?plateau.Asthelavacooled,?contraction?occurred.Horizontalcontraction?fractured?inasimilarwaytodryingmud,withthecrackspropagatingdownasthemasscooled,leavingpillarlikestructures,whicharealsofracturedhorizontallyintobiscuits.

地质学家研究其中的构造，发现这道天然阶梯是地质学第三纪由活火山不断喷发而形成的。一股股玄武岩熔流涌出地面，冷却后收缩结晶形成六边或四边、五边形的棱柱。经过海浪冲蚀，石柱群在不同高度被截断，便呈现出高低参差的石柱林地貌。在“巨人