The formation of ‘tors’ on small rocky hills is associated with which among the following?

Tors are distinctive geomorphological features characterized by large, free-standing rock outcrops that typically crown the summits of small hills. They are most commonly associated with granite landscapes. The formation of tors is primarily a result of differential weathering and unloading processes [1]. In granite, well-developed joint systems allow for deep chemical weathering (saprolitization) under humid conditions. When the surrounding weathered material (regolith) is eventually stripped away by erosion or mass wasting, the more resistant, unweathered core stones are left exposed as tors [3]. While other rocks like limestone or dolomite form karst landforms such as sinkholes and dolines, the specific process of exfoliation and thermal expansion leading to rounded tor structures is a hallmark of granitic terrain [1].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Geomorphic Processes > Exfoliation > p. 41
2. [3] https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2023/5121/sir20235121.pdf