EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


The Bismantova Stone

April 09, 2020

The bismantova stone_2020_pierluigi giacobazzi

Photographer: Pierluigi Giacobazzi
Summary Author: Pierluigi Giacobazzi

With its peculiar size and shape, the Bismantova Stone (Pietra di
Bismantova) can be considered the natural jewel of the entire
Reggio Emilia Apennines, in northern Italy. The formation of the
rocky massif dates back to the Miocene epoch (16-20 million years
ago) when layers of bio- calcarenites resting on a base of
clay marls formed in a shallow, tropical marine environment.
Standing 985 ft (300 m) above the highlands that form its base -- it's
0.62 mi long (1 km) and 787 ft wide (240 m) -- the Bismantova Stone
represents a massive example of residual erosion.

To date, several minerals (particularly quartz), mollusk
shells, calcareous algae, sponge spicule and fish teeth
(mostly from sharks) have been found incorporated both on its walls
and on the fallen rocks surrounding this monolith. The photo above
shows its south-side, lit by the almost full Moon. Photo taken on
January 8, 2020, during a crystal-clear winter evening, one hour after
the end of the astronomical twilight.

Photo Details: Camera: NIKON D750; Software: Adobe Photoshop 21.1
(Macintosh); Exposure Time: 13.000s; Aperture: ƒ/2.8; ISO equivalent:
400; Focal Length (35mm): 24; Lens: 24.0 mm f/1.4. Taken at 6.43 p.m.
UTC.
* Pietra di Bismantova, Italy Coordinates: 44.42164, 10.41467

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Geology Links

* Earthquakes
* Geologic Time
* Geomagnetism
* General Dictionary of Geology
* Mineral and Locality Database
* Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
* This Dynamic Earth
* USGS
* USGS Ask a Geologist
* USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
* USGS Volcano Hazards Program

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Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

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