CONTACTS IN SIERRA NEVADA GRANITE: GEOLOGIC AND ARTISTIC INTERPRETATIONS

The generation and emplacement of granitic magma below volcanic mountain chains represents a first-order geologic process that 1) has implications for the formation of continental crust and the accumulation/storage of magma beneath volcanic centers; 2) formed the granitic bedrock that define the skyline of the scenic eastern Sierra Nevada national parks from Yosemite to Sequoia. This intersection between the scientific geologic questions and aesthetic natural beauty of the eastern Sierra Nevada presents a unique opportunity for science communication, wilderness appreciation and conservation of park resources. In this contribution, we present new scientific results and artistic interpretations of Yosemite National Park granitic rocks that illustrate how the two disciplines complement each other.

Our new geologic results consist of geochemical data from zircon mineral grains extracted from modern stream sands sampled across Yosemite National Park. The data displays measurable geochemical variability in Yosemite zircon grains with different ages, and provides a foundation for testing hypotheses for the formation of physical contacts between chemically related, but texturally and compositionally different granitic rocks. These results will be displayed adjacent to hand-dyed, stitched textile wall hangings that depict contacts in granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada ranging from microscopic to mountain range scale. This juxtaposition of geology and art highlights the fact that both fields are founded in detailed observations and driven by our desire to understand our world, and suggests numerous opportunities for synergy that can benefit geologists, artists, and the public.