Reconstructing Eorzea's geological history.

[Catapult]

Also, if Silvertear really is an impact basin, maybe we ought to search the strata for rare elements (a la KT boundary iridium). If it is an impact though, either the local rock is highly resistant to erosion, it's a relatively recent impact, or the aether concentration is interfering with the erosion, preserving it.

Impact crater, volcanic maar, or something else are our options. I'm going to keep my money on the "subduction of the Crystal Tower" idea for now, but maintain an open mind till we possibly get some mineral samples from the area. (mining in Mor Dhona - can I haz?)

world/regional map

I take that world map around about as seriously as this one:

Creating localised maps is one thing, creating a cohesive world picture is another and Earth didn't get it properly right until we launched a rocket up and started taking pictures. It also reminds me of the following classroom discussion that was still typical a few decades ago.

Whippersnapper Student: Africa and South America... did they once fit together?
University Professor: Don't be silly! The earth doesn't move.

But you got me on one thing: I'm going to have to re-think my river theory, as the relative positioning seems to show nothing feeding Silvertear Falls, which disturbs me slightly.

Do you think that the geology has been designed to make much sense, considering this? Or is it just going to be that higher tier rock and metal is going to be in the higher level zones?

Bit of column A, bit of column B. Knowing SE, I doubt they would throw basic geological theory to the four winds, but I'm not sure if they've realised they've set the South Shroud up for Diamond deposits either.

I know you said the mineral composition makes it unlikely that it's sandstone, but it's possible the items recovered in mining can't be trusted, as Mjollnir pointed out with botany.

Fair point, but there is only one person who can tell us for sure. But we can use what evidence we have to narrow down to a model of best fit, and things are at least loosely fitting at this point.

As far as a real world example of that, I'm sure the sandstone caverns of Arizona (and surrounding areas) came to mind. They also often are sort of... "open-roofed" caverns, like the areas in Western Thanalan on the way to the ferry.

If you want something less... sandy... then I do have another suggestion but it comes with a heavy disclaimer of I probably have no idea what I'm talking about. Upstate New York's Howe Caverns. They're made of limestone, though I have no idea if that's ...felsic, but I'm guessing probably not, since it isn't granite.

Limestone is calcium based, where as felsic and mafic are your more traditional rock. Felsic rocks are known for being whiter and with a decent amount of quartz in them. Mafic rocks are far more black.

But I like that Arizona Caves example. Not perfect, but a good type to think about.

It's unclear how much of the 1.0 geography has actually changed as far as the Eorzeans are aware and how much we're supposed to consider retconned into its new 2.0 form.

Yeah... >_<