File:Basalt Rock Formation - Geograph.org.uk - 180882.jpg
"On the beach, basalt columns radiate from a central point on the
shore near the fossil tree. The columns are formed due to the cooling
effect of a standing tree on the lava flowing around the tree trunk.
The tree draws heat from the lava. When the lava shrinks, it forms
hexagonal shrinkage cracks which form columns whose axes are parallel to the
direction of heat flow. So the hexagonal columns radiate from the tree
trunk which is drawing heat from the lava.
This example of columnar basalt is located on the coast of the island of Mull, Scotland.
If lava is in a level slab losing heat to the air above it, it cools from the top down and forms the more familiar vertical hexagonal columns (e.g. Giant's Causeway, Staffa, Sampson's Ribs on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh).
There must have been a forest that was engulfed by the slowly flowing lava."(required by the license)