The Half Dome is an isolated mass suspended within the batholithic intrusions. Developed due to vertical jointing, exfoliation, and some glacial activity. Steep face of half dome began to take shape as thin slabs of rock b/w parallel vertical joints were loosened by weathering and mass wasting and fell away layer by layer. Tenaya Glacier cleared away exfoliation debris and talus flowing in direction parallel to trend of vertical joints, removed sheets of rock by plucking . Rounded back of Half Dome formed as curved shells of rock exfoliated
