Balanced Rocks of Southern South America examines one of the continent's most striking landforms: rock masses left standing in visibly unstable positions after long histories of weathering and erosion. Bringing together case studies from Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru, the book describes how these formations develop across cratonic uplands, volcanic terrains, and desert margins. Its chapters document diverse genesis processes and address these landforms' utility as natural indicators of seismic stability. The volume contains numerous images that illustrate the landforms and their respective regions. As a whole, this book elaborates a regional catalogue that links geomorphology, heritage, and tourism, capturing both the past and future of these fascinating formations.

This book is related with the Gondwana Paleolandscapes in South America, most of which a product of Tectonic Stability This book shows the occurrence of this Landscape and Landforms Geomorphology in clearly identified PaleoLandscapes This book is written by Geomorphology specialists investigating precisely the same regions

Klappentext

This book is going to be a very interesting and original book, with examples of different areas of South America. The thematic topics to be discussed are not common and it will show a great variety of geomorphological environments.

To provide a better organization of the volume, it is suggested that each chapter should include the following:

1. Introduction. General geological and geomorphological aspects of the region described, where these unusual and ephemeral landforms are located.
2. A list of the examples known for each region, with detailed information about geographical coordinates. It is intended that this volume will be a sort of a regional catalogue of Balanced Rocks.
3. Lithological, structural, geomorphological and morphometric description of each known example. The dimensions of the Balanced Rock will be specially mentioned and discussed.
4. Discussion of the possible genesis of each example mentioned (deep chemical weathering, differential weathering, surface water and ground water erosion, aeolian erosion, mass-movement processes, etc.).
5. Use of these landforms of precarious stability and ephemeral history as natural seismographic indicators, if pertaining, and indicate if examples of fall or collapse are known for the study area, as a consequence of strong earthquakes of known intensity in the region. The idea behind this is that if these landforms may survive even in seismic areas, it is possible that earthquakes of a certain intensity have not taken place in the region in the past, maybe centuries or millennia.
6. Geo-touristic and Geo-heritage use of these landforms, with plentiful examples in South America, particularly in cratonic areas. Their value for the development of Geo-parks or other cultural values, particularly related to aboriginal cultures.
7. Plentiful photographical archives of the cited landforms, with many good photographs to be included in the volume, and satellite imagery of the region where each example is located.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Balancing Rocks In Brazil.- Pedra Chapeú Do Sol Goias/Brazil.- Boulders, Tors, And Balancing Rocks From The Northeast Of Brazil.- The Piedra Equilibrista Of Paso Carreta.- Paleolanscape And Balanced Rocks As Geoturistic Resourcis In The North Is Paraguay.- Rocks In Precarious Unstable Equilibrium At The Sierra De Lihuel Calel, Province Of La Pampa, Argentina.- The Magnetic Stone, San Carlos De Bariloche, Northern Patagonia, Argentina.- Balanced Rocks Of Marifil Complex, Province Of Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina.- The Piedra Movediza Of Balcarce, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.- The Piedra Movediza And Other Balanced Rocks Of Tandilia.- The Balanced Rocks Of Bolivia.- Huayllay The Largest Balanced Rocks Sanctuary In America.