Favorite Obscure Rock Formation to Climb?

I'm taking a geology class right now and learning about some unusual formations in the southwest.

What is your favorite obscure (NOT granite, sandstone, limestone etc) rock to climb?

I climbed rhyolite for the first time over winter break (Socorro) and thought it was fun. Anyone here climbed anything really weird? Just wondering whats out there thats climbable. Vishnu Shist? Gabbro?

Castle Peaks in the Mojave National Preserve. We climbed Dove Benchmark; rock is primarily composed of volcanic tuffs and breccias.(chossy, and weird) It's only about 30 feet of easy climbing; the crux is getting there (dirt roads, and a long hike/ approach up hill. It's definitely obscure, and one of my favorite areas with awesome panoramic views of the Lanfair Valley, and surrounding mountain ranges. You probably won't see another soul out there; my favorite rock to be on. : )

Castle Peaks beautiful choss (on the summit)
No cell reception, and a long way from help; don't fall, or get too friendly with the rattlers. : )

the phonolite (spelling?) at Devils tower is excellent. Smith rock tuff is good stuff too

I'd have to go with freaky cobbles like those found at Pinnacles.

mountainproject.com/v/calif…

I bouldered on a lot of chert and greenstone when I lived in Humboldt. Pretty fun and really slippery on the beach or in the river beds.

Another favorite in the Mojave Preserve is climbing on volcanic rhyolite; I love the texture, and the pockets.

Okay, not technical rock climbing when you have rings to grab on the steep section of the "Rings Trail", but I did climb, and downclimb cool, pocketed rock formations (easy free-solo) in the area just for fun.

I think most of the stuff I climb is real gniess but a lot of people think it's totally schist. Most people just take it for granite and if you don't like it that's tuff.

+1 for freaky cobbles, only this little fella is in Utah.

Posting an obscure climbing area here would make it not so obscure. Do I want to do that?
EDIT: Ok. sorry, i thought "obscure" referred to location, when the OP is referring to geology...

David Sweet wrote:I think most of the stuff I climb is real gniess but a lot of people think it's totally schist. Most people just take it for granite and if you don't like it that's tuff.

People who have the nerve to tell me to my face what I climb isn't gneiss enough for them are nothing but a slag, and I'd be so dam tuff on them, and they'd be so petrified wood hit the fluorite, if I gave them the tiger-eye!? If they are gneiss partners, and didn't degrade me, or take me for granite I'd probably give them the chert off my back.

gneiss, GG

REBAR!

Has anyone climbed Gabbro?? Apparently it is an igneous rock similar to granite, so it must be strong. I've never heard of a cliff of it, though.

Joshua Tree

hahahahahahahahahaha..... just kidding!!!!!!! does dry falls in palm springs count? somewhat obscure. ask todd gordon about that one, I don't think he's even been there, and he's climbed everything, ever.

Skyeler Congdon wrote:Has anyone climbed Gabbro?? Apparently it is an igneous rock similar to granite, so it must be strong. I've never heard of a cliff of it, though.

You have the gift of gabbro, but this is getting as boring as a geology class. We'll give you a chance to start over with a clean slate. Say something funny, ore I'm going to bedrock 'n' roll, as in heavy metal dude! ; )

Paging Tom Hasbeen! Buff? Kirra, SSP? Other funny people? Help!

You guys are taking too long.

Obscure rock formation? It's just gabbro.

Gabbro similar to Gneiss. Gneiss can be nice. Many think it's granite but it's not.

Porphyry is cool. Some of that in the South Tyrol region of Italy. Red with white spots. Also like granite.

Schist. Now there's a rock that is interesting to climb. Flaky. Melts in your hands.

Tuft is nice an hard with solution pockets but very abrasive. Some of that at Enchanted Tower in New Mexico and up near Bishop in the Owens Gorge.

But the weirdest I've climbed is that rock outcrop island in the middle of the "Racetrack" playa in Death Valley NP. It looks good from a distance but up close it looks like flaky choss. Then you grab it and it's pretty solid but with up facing exfoliating flakes that are hard and sharp. Anyone know what kinda rock that is? It's been years since I've been on it.

The troll Bridge in Frick Park (Pittsburgh). It looks to be made out of made out of large cinders.

One of the several interesting rock formations (volcanic tuffs, and breccias) at Castle Peaks. Jonny had the urge to climb the beautiful choss.

Chimney Mt in New York's Adirondack's...5.7 on this side, 5.easy on the other side