Rock wall
Visible layers.
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The Varvite Geological Park in Itu is an exposed face of «varvite» rock in the Paraná Basin, set up on the site of the old Itu quarry, which supplied stone slabs for the town's buildings and pavements since at least the early 18th century. When the quarry closed, part of it was protected for its scientific importance, and it is now classed as a geological monument of São Paulo state. Varvite is a sedimentary rock made of thin alternating light and dark layers laid down in lakes at the edges of ancient glaciers, each pair representing a single year, so it reads like tree rings in stone from an ice age some 280 million years ago. In 1938 the geologist Othon Leonardos described this quarry as the finest varvite exposure in the whole country. The park has a huge rock wall with its layers on show, a lake, paths and explanatory panels, making an enjoyable short visit for families. Entry is usually free; check times.
Visible layers.
A year per pair.
In the old quarry.
Itu, São Paulo state
A sedimentary rock of thin alternating layers laid down in ancient glacial lakes, each pair representing one year.
