What Type Of Rock Is The Devils Marbles

Karlu karlu or the devils marbles is a living cultural landscape and the traditional country for the warumungu kaytetye alyawarra and warlpiri people.

What type of rock is the devils marbles. Karlu karlu literally translated as round boulders are a collection of gigantic rounded granite boulders many of which are precariously balanced on top of one another. The reserve is now jointly managed with the traditional owners and parks and wildlife rangers. The devils marbles are called karlu karlu in alyawarre pronounced al yow worrah a local aboriginal language. On top of the granite a thick sedimentary layer of sandstone formed that compressed the granite under its immense weight.

These massive rocks are made up of one type of rock called granite. Karlu karlu devils marbles are one of the most eye popping sights in the area. It s the meeting place of four different language groups. When was it formed.

The devils marbles were formed over a very long period of time although they are around 1 7 billion years old. The devils marbles are a collection of massive granite boulders strewn across a valley south of tennant creek. These huge granite boulders jut upwards from the dusty red landscape. The rocks are a cooler sheltered environment for plants and animals.

The devils marbles are giant rocks. Devils marbles karlu karlu travellers wishing to take in a truly unique natural sight should make a detour to the devils marbles northern territory the incredible granite boulders and rock formations strewn alongside the territory s stuart highway are perched at incredible angles and seemingly defy the laws of gravity. Alyawarre kayteye warumunga and warlpiri people also have spiritual connections and responsibilities. However the area is not just significant to alyawarre people.

That one block of granite then developed horizontal and vertical cracks and split into many rectangular blocks. The natural processes of weathering and erosion have created the various shapes of the boulders. The devils marbles started out many million years ago when an upsurge of molten rock reached the surface spread out and settled into a solid layer. Granite was first formed under the earth and served a purpose as magma.

In a historic ceremony held here on 27 october 2008 ownership of the karlu karlu devils marbles conservation reserve was officially given back to the site s traditional owners. The devil s marbles started life nearly 2 billion years ago as the magma cooled in the earth s crust to form the igneous rock granite. The natural and cultural wonder of the devils marbles if you re driving from darwin and alice springs you re likely to stumble across a geographical wonder.