Question

The Little Devil's Postpile is a _____:

a. pile of granite, broken into elongated slabs due to exfoliation
b. vertical set of striations along main valley wall carved by vertically descending glaciers from hanging valleys
c. basalt plug, remnant of a volcanic conduit, that has been weathered into columnar joints
d. elongated, columnar weathering pattern in metamorphic red slate

Answer 1

The Little Devil's Postpile is a basalt plug featuring weathered columnar joints, formed from quick cooling and contracting lava.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Little Devil's Postpile is a basalt plug, remnant of a volcanic conduit, that has been weathered into columnar joints. This unique geological formation is created when lava cools and contracts quickly, leading to the development of polygonal columns, typically in a hexagonal pattern.

Such features are also commonly found in other volcanic areas around the world and are representative of the type of igneous activity that shapes our planet's landscape.