<p>the trick is not all isolated rocks are produced the same ways. Of the two in your pictures  the first is an old volcanic events; intrusions, dikes, ect. depending on which rock in the region you are talking about. The whole deccan plateau region is full of them, some have been exposed on the surface via erosion. Basically everything else eroded faster than they did leaving them sticking out. 
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/0jHGi.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/0jHGi.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>The second was produced by the same effect (eroding slower than the rock around it) but this time it was just a hard massive sandstone formation surrounded by more easily eroded rock. It is part of the bedrock.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/rMzCC.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rMzCC.jpg" alt="http://uluru-katatjuta-information-page.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/3/2/20321131/4518517_orig.jpg"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-03T18:39:00.047Z
Very nice explanation, thank you! I learned more than I expected. The cross-section from Australia is really striking - wow, what a [strange looking place](https://i.sstatic.net/WDg2o.jpg)! (From [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ApproachToKataJuta_edit1.jpg).) Is it possible to give credit to the sources or owners of the images somehow, a link or at least a mention, thanks!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-03T18:45:45.043Z
[Google Earth](https://i.sstatic.net/gxILZ.jpg).
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-04T01:21:55.007Z
The first I got from uluru-katatjuta-information-page.weebly.com. I actually can't remember where i got the first and I have not been able to find it again so if anyone knows please add it in the comments.
John
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-05T09:53:09.457Z
in latin monolith is monolithus it means one stone.
trond hansen
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-03T18:02:35.643Z
2017-04-03T18:02:35.643Z
John
<p>I am at a loss for the precise, correct terminology, but I have read in Wikipedia that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Uluru</a> is not a monolith, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savandurga" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Savandurga</a> is, and that I probably shouldn't be using the word monolith to begin with, but instead use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inselberg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">inselberg</a>.</p>

<p>I was once told that Uluru is a giant rock, just sitting in the soil. I think this is probably impossible and that it is part of the underlying bedrock of the area, but is that the case for all/most inselbergs? Are they identified primarily by how isolated they appear <em>above ground</em> only?</p>

<hr>

<p><strong>below:</strong> Savandurga (India) from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Savandurga.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. See more photos at <a href="http://tourist-places-around-the-world.blogspot.com/2012/02/savandurga-hill-composed-entirely-of.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Savandurga - A Hill composed entirely of only one rock</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/09Xta.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/09Xta.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><strong>below:</strong> Uluru (Australia) from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uluru_(Helicopter_view)-crop.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/uKcpn.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/uKcpn.jpg" alt="enter description here"></a></p>

<rocks><land-surface>
Are "monoliths" giant, isolated rocks sitting in dirt, or are they continuous with bedrock
uhoh
# Are "monoliths" giant, isolated rocks sitting in dirt, or are they continuous with bedrock

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-03)

I am at a loss for the precise, correct terminology, but I have read in Wikipedia that [Uluru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru) is not a monolith, but [Savandurga](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savandurga) is, and that I probably shouldn't be using the word monolith to begin with, but instead use [inselberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inselberg).

I was once told that Uluru is a giant rock, just sitting in the soil. I think this is probably impossible and that it is part of the underlying bedrock of the area, but is that the case for all/most inselbergs? Are they identified primarily by how isolated they appear *above ground* only?

---

**below:** Savandurga (India) from [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Savandurga.jpg). See more photos at [Savandurga - A Hill composed entirely of only one rock](http://tourist-places-around-the-world.blogspot.com/2012/02/savandurga-hill-composed-entirely-of.html).

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/09Xta.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/09Xta.jpg)

**below:** Uluru (Australia) from [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Uluru_(Helicopter_view)-crop.jpg).

[![enter description here](https://i.sstatic.net/uKcpn.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/uKcpn.jpg)

**Tags:** rocks, land-surface


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-04-03. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

the trick is not all isolated rocks are produced the same ways. Of the two in your pictures the first is an old volcanic events; intrusions, dikes, ect. depending on which rock in the region you are talking about. The whole deccan plateau region is full of them, some have been exposed on the surface via erosion. Basically everything else eroded faster than they did leaving them sticking out.
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/0jHGi.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/0jHGi.jpg)

The second was produced by the same effect (eroding slower than the rock around it) but this time it was just a hard massive sandstone formation surrounded by more easily eroded rock. It is part of the bedrock.

[![http://uluru-katatjuta-information-page.weebly.com/uploads/2/0/3/2/20321131/4518517_orig.jpg](https://i.sstatic.net/rMzCC.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/rMzCC.jpg)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Very nice explanation, thank you! I learned more than I expected. The cross-section from Australia is really striking - wow, what a [strange looking place](https://i.sstatic.net/WDg2o.jpg)! (From [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ApproachToKataJuta_edit1.jpg).) Is it possible to give credit to the sources or owners of the images somehow, a link or at least a mention, thanks!  
> **username_0**: [Google Earth](https://i.sstatic.net/gxILZ.jpg).  
> **username_1**: The first I got from uluru-katatjuta-information-page.weebly.com. I actually can't remember where i got the first and I have not been able to find it again so if anyone knows please add it in the comments.  
> **username_2**: in latin monolith is monolithus it means one stone.  

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