The monolith from 2001 and beyond http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47024373/ns/technology_and_science-science/
Apparently the ratio of thickness to width to height impressed a lot of observers as being similar to the ACC novel, but the actual size is hard to determine. In 2001 the monolith ratio was 1-4-9 which relates to the square of 1-2-3 ... which was supposed to be some kind of clue. Thanks to Ron Kita for this info. HOWEVER - Note that if the same satellite had taken an image of the 4-Corners area of the USA (aka "Hillerman country") then the natural structure seen in this image (the one on the right but with its base buried by sand): http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_l4z_uk_P7MU/TKqnig2tv9I/AAAAAAAAIrA/LyJJDdn2GGM/s1 600/Totem+Pole.jpg would have looked like the "monolith" due to pixel smoothing ... ... so the bottom line is that it is probably natural, but "one never knows, do one?"
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