The striking vertical fissure seen in the pH๏τograph was first documented by geological survey teams in the early 1990s, during regional mapping explorations in a desert mountain range believed to be located in the Arabian Peninsula or North Africa. Local Bedouin communities had long referred to it as the “Split of the Red Mountain,” regarding it as a natural boundary marker and sometimes as a sacred feature. The fissure gained international attention after archaeologists and hikers posted pH๏τos showing the unusual straightness and sharp contrast between the dark central rock and the surrounding reddish sandstone, prompting speculation of ancient quarrying or unknown construction methods.
Geological sampling indicates that the reddish outer rock consists primarily of ferruginous sandstone, formed around 300–500 million years ago. The dark, narrow strip running vertically up the mountain, however, is composed of basaltic dike material—a type of igneous rock formed when molten magma intrudes into fractures of older sandstone and cools rapidly. Over millions of years, erosion exposed this once-buried intrusion. The linear, blade-like shape reflects the original path of the magma injection, which exploited a pre-existing fault line. This geological scenario is typical of dike intrusions, seen in volcanic or tectonically active regions.
Despite geological explanations, many observers question how the fissure could appear so straight—almost resembling a deliberate stone cut. Archaeologists note that no known ancient culture possessed the capability to cut through a mountain face of this scale with such precision. Additionally, microscopic analyses show no chisel marks, tool abrasions, or quarrying debris commonly ᴀssociated with human modification. The symmetry is a visual illusion amplified by erosion on both sides of the dike and the contrasting colors of the rock. While the formation appears engineered, all measurable evidence supports a natural geological origin.
Although the fissure is not a man-made structure, it holds cultural significance. Rock formations like this often influenced settlement patterns, trade routes, and ritual practices in ancient communities. In several oral traditions recorded from the region, the split mountain is described as a “path opened by the heavens” or a marker separating tribal territories. Archaeosurveys around the base of the formation revealed pottery fragments and hearth remains dated to 1500–800 BCE, suggesting that pastoral societies camped near the site, possibly drawn by accessible water runoff channeled by the vertical fissure.
Today, the fissure is monitored by both geologists and heritage researchers. Climate-driven erosion and seismic activity can widen or destabilize the basaltic dike, so remote sensing tools—drones, LIDAR, and 3D pH๏τogrammetry—are used to track microchanges in the rock formations. The site serves as an outdoor geological classroom, demonstrating textbook examples of faulting and magma intrusion. Moreover, its dramatic appearance continues to attract cultural interest, inspiring comparisons with ancient myths and stimulating public curiosity about the natural forces that shape the Earth.
