The large sheets of rock that break off batholiths,such as Half Dome in Yosemite National Park,develop as a result of

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Exfoliation is the process in which large rock sheets break off from the surface of a batholith due to the release of pressure on the underlying rock layers. This typically occurs in areas where the rock has cooled and contracted, causing fractures and cracks to form. Over time, these cracks can widen and the surface rock can peel away in large, thin sheets, creating features such as Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. Mineral expansion, salt crystal growth, frost wedging, and solution can all contribute to the breakdown of rock, but they are not specifically responsible for the formation of exfoliation sheets on batholiths.

The Large Sheets of Rock That Break Off Batholiths,such as Half