Although the quest for Earth's oldest rock is of great importance, identifying the youngest exposed pluton on Earth is also of interest. A pluton is a body of intrusive igneous rock that crystallized from slowly cooling magma at depths of several kilometers beneath the surface of the Earth. Therefore, the youngest exposed pluton represents the most recent tectonic uplift and highest exhumation....

CONTENTS Page Introduction .................................................................................................................. 127 Megascopic structures ...................................................................................................... 128 Hand-specimen petrology .....................................................................................................

Hydrothermally altered igneous rock and mudstone formed under the sea are often rich in arsenic (As). Therefore, As leaching from these rocks excavated during construction work may affect the surrounding soils and groundwater. High-volume, low-concentration contaminants contained in the waste rock as muck have been a major concern in Japan since the Soil Contamination Countermeasures Law was en...