GEOGRAPHY

GRADE 11
WEEK 3

LESSON 4: LANDFORMS ASSOCIATED WITH MASSIVE IGNEOUS ROCK (*MIR)

You must know: You must use these Resources:

• What massive igneous rocks (*MIR) are. • Lesson on Page 2
• The definition of a granite dome and tors. • Textbook: Topic 2 – Geomorphology
• What granite domes and tors look like. • Worksheet
• How granite domes and tors are formed. • Textbook: Additional Activities
• The value of these landforms to people.

WORKSHEET: Use the information on Page 2 and your textbook to complete the
following worksheet in your workbook.

DOME TORS

(walkinginwc.-wordpress.com) (commons.wikimedia.org)

1.1 Give an example of a South African batholith.

1.2 In a paragraph of 80 words, discuss how batholiths become visible on the earth’s surface and what
the value of this rock structure is to humans.
1.3 Describe the processes involved in the formation of a granite dome.
1.4 Use the information in the following table and write a short summary of tors in your workbook.

Summary of tors
INFORMATION YOUR SUMMARY
Where in South Africa can it be found?
What does it look like? (simple line sketch)
Type of igneous rock it consists of.
Features it consists of. (labelling)
Processes involved in forming tors.
Value/significance to people.

Follow the link or use the QR code to watch a short video

(1 min 04 sec) about the formation of a tors:
https://tinyurl.com/yc8erlet

1
 Study this topic with the following questions in mind!
TOPIC: Landforms associated with Massive Igneous Rocks (*MIR)

What does it look like? What is it? Where is it?

Dome: a large rounded dome- • Paarl-rock in the Western
shaped structure or hill with bare Cape.
Granite rock exposed over most of the
surface.
Dome Tors: a rocky pile or outcrop of
stacked piles of partially rounded
• Valley of Desolation –
Graaff- Reinet, Lowveld
boulders, called core stones, loosely and Namaqualand.
Tors resting on top of one another.

Why is it there?
GRANITE DOMES TORS

Before erosion and weathering After erosion and weathering Ground level/surface
Ground level/surface
Ground level/surface DOME
Ground level/surface
Stage 3
Stage 1 Stage 2 The rock appears on the earth’s
surface as a small dome known as
Batholith A massive igneous When water passes through a ruwari.
intrusion with vertical the joints, they are widened The loose material around it is
Stage 1 Stage 2 by chemical weathering
and horizontal joints eroded.
• Granite domes usually arise from batholiths or laccoliths. form under the surface underground. Weathered material in the cracks
• Erosion and weathering then occurs until a large granite mass e.g. a batholith. The rocks break down and and joints is removed and core
appears on the earth’s surface. become more rounded. stones (tors) remain.
Compiled by: Andre Jacobs, Andre Petersen and Hyran Gillion
Acknowledgements: Wilma McPherson, Mike Eksteen