Locally, low density fluids, characterized by an abundance of silicon dioxide, collected into hot molten magmas and migrated upward through the surrounding denser rock. These magmas cooled in the crust and formed large homogeneous rock bodies that are highly resistant to erosion. Subsequent removal of the landmass by erosion has formed the extensive exposed granites (for example, Stone Mountain) that characterize the Piedmont of the Southeastern United States. Piedmont rocks have been extensively mined for a variety of different minerals and the local granite and marble are shipped worldwide as building stone.
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