Page 12 - AHATA

Friday 10 May 2024 LOCAL
A10

Episode CXXIV 124 - Island’s geology

NOORD — In Aruba we can of landslides that came down is dominated by a rock unit
differentiate three basic from high mountains of South which the main component is
geological formations. One America, a few miles to the quartzdiorite. The landscape
is a hilly part, second by an south. The clusters of these here is flat to slightly undu-
undulating part and a third huge boulders are among lating with quartz cover by
part consisting of limestone the interesting geological as- boulders. This rock is light
which embraces these two pects of the island. However gray in color and speckled
zones mentioned before and these big boulders are manly whit black and white. It is
forming also the coast line. magma that has cooled off relatively hard. The typical
before reaching the superfi- diorite landscape is found
The giant boulders of Aruba cies. near Santa Cruz. These are
are almost unique in the Ca- all areas with boulders and
ribbean. They are found at Also known as part of the small or larger patches of sand
Ayo, Casibari, Santa Rosa, quartz diorite or granite land- and vegetation. Places with
Paraguaná and many other scape (Batholith formations) few boulders and large areas
places on the island. These This we will find from the cen- of quartz diorite debris are
formations have been ex- tral part of Aruba towards the found in the east part, Tanki on the island. The polishers along the sheet-lines. Beads
plained as being remnants west and at the northwestern Flip, Noord, Alto Vista and in were collected at the bay`s and pendants made out of
of ancient volcanic action. end of the island, and from the south of Savaneta. on the northern coast and similar rock type were found
It has also been speculated the central part towards the were then further polished by in archaeological areas_ and
that they once formed parts east and south, the landscape The rocks of the Aruba Lava the Amerindians tribes who described in the literature as
Formation were extensively colonized our islands from out Aruba greenstone, however
used by the inhabitants of the the mainland where to make itis often difficult to establish
prehistory era. The physical similar tools and artifacts were what type of stone it refers
characteristic of the rocks made. Schist, a softer stone to since the term greenstone
played a key role in deter- type was used to make pen- covers a wide range of differ-
mining the purpose for which dants and beads; the green ent green rock types (schist,
it would be used. Diabase was color was probably the deter- rhyolite, jade).
used to make axes, chisels, mining it’s attraction. No tools
knives and the polishers. The of schist has been found, the Did you say that you love
hardness and the homoge- sheet or scaled-like structure Aruba its origins and cultural
neous structure of the rock of the stone is a limiting fac- heritage? Than this private
make it the best raw material tor when making an axe or encounter with our colum-
for these artifacts available chisel. The rock will easily split nist anthropologist is just as
you. Sessions created in a
Article by: Etnia Nativa gorgeous setting for visitor
with special interests. Ap-
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an email to etnianativa03@
your Aruban exprerience gmail.com or WhatsApp us at
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels +297 592 2702 for a private
reservation.q