Sand collected from around Göreme’s unique rock formations is characterized by large amounts of small and larger fragmented silica and feldspar with small amounts of black and multicolored igneous rock fragments.
Low and high magnification of typical sand from near Göreme’s unique geological formations.
Geographic Overview
Göreme was an important center of early Christianity. Over many years the surrounding soft rock was carved into houses, Byzantine churches, monasteries and religious sanctuaries. This UNESCO World Heritage Site includes ancient, interconnecting underground settlements dating back to the 4th century.
Sand Location
See where this sand sample was collected on Google Maps.
Virtual Sand Tour
Explore an interactive map of Göreme on Google Earth.
Sand Gallery
Occasional black and mottled black grains stand out in contrast to the numerous clear quartz and off-white/yellowish feldspar grains in this low magnification view.
A variety of small and larger clear quartz crystals and off-white feldspar grains are predominant in this sample with a few black and occasional reddish-brown igneous volcanic sand grains.
A mixture of small and larger clear and yellowish-white quartz and feldspar grains are present along with occasional darker volcanic grains in this sample.
In this higher magnification of Figure 3 off-white and yellowish feldspar grains and occasional clear quartz grains are present with darker reddish and mottled igneous rock grains.
This high magnification shows predominantly sharp-edged quartz and feldspar grains along with a few dark and light mottled igneous sand grains.