Jamanota

Diabase (also called dolerite) is a dark-gray to black in color, fine-grained, intrusive igneous rock. It is similar to basalt and gabbro, but its grain size is determined by their cooling rate:

• Basalt (Aruba Lava Formation) is lava flow that cools rapidly and produces minuscule individual crystals that are difficult to see with the unaided eye.

• Diabase cools slower through shallow intrusions, such as sills, dikes, lopoliths or laccoliths. This allows individual crystals to grow up to 2 millimetres (0.079 in) in size.
• Gabbro (such as that found at Matividiri) has the slowest cooling below earth's surface, resulting in some crystals to be over 1 centimetre (0.39 in) across or larger.

An example of Diabase being used in construction are the "bluestone" pillars at Stonhenge.[4]

Metamorphic grade. The formation of schist.

Schist is a metamorphic crystalline rock. Its crystalized minerals are large enough to be seen with the unaided eye. Schist exhibits a high tendency to split into layers, known as foliation. Foliation forms when mineral grains align perpendicularly to pressure; creating layers of minerals. It can morph out of various types of rocks, including sedimentary rocks such as shales or mudstones that have been exposed to moderate level of heat and pressure related to mountain building.[5][6]

Tuff is formed from solidification of explosive volcanic eruption, such as rock, ash, and magma. This eruption ejecta travels through the air and falls back to earth. If this material is compacted and cemented into a rock, that rock will be called “tuff”. Tuff deposits are ticker nearest to the eruption site and decrease in thickness with distance. Tuff also varies by particle size. The larger the particles, the closer these particles are to the eruption site.[7]

Papiemanto: Cascabel | Dutch: Aruba ratelslang

The Aruba rattlesnake (Crotalus unicolor) is a venomous species found in the sparsely located areas of Arikok National Park. Aruba rattlesnakes are found in a range of elevations, from sea level 2 metres (6.6 ft) up to the top of Jamanota, but they are most commonly found in the diabase hills and terraced limestone plateau. In contrast, there are no historical records or local reports suggesting that rattlesnakes have occupied the western side of the island.[8] Much of this area is densely populated and has been subjected to human disturbance.[9] The habitat of the rattlesnake can be categorized as thorn scrub and desert.[10] The rattlesnake is endemic to the island and feeds on small rodents, birds, and lizards. The Aruba rattlesnake are active in the early morning and late afternoon but are nocturnal during the warmer months.[11]

Papiamento: Falki, Partawela, Gabilan di seru | Dutch: Witstaartbuizerd

Jamanota boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna, including some unique and rare species. One of the most notable examples is the White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus), which is believed to have nested exclusively in Jamanota area. While there have been unverified sightings of this species in 1988 and 1997, its current presence on the island cannot be confirmed. The White-tailed Hawk's distinctive call has been described as a 'penetrating "kee-weet, kee-weet".' However, these hawks are sometimes mistaken for other commonly found birds like the Crested Caracara and Osprey.[12][13]