Erratic blocks or "erratics" for short.
Alberta exhibits several geological features indicating past glaciation, including U-shaped valleys, striations on bedrock, and glacial till deposits. The presence of erratics—large boulders transported by glaciers—scattered across the landscape further supports this evidence. Additionally, features like moraines and drumlins, formed from glacial movement and deposition, are prominent in the region. These geological formations collectively point to Alberta's history of glacial coverage during the last Ice Age.
Carboniferous means carbon bearing. Large coal deposits were laid down then, hence the name.
The North Sea
In Rochester, NY, the gypsum and salt deposits were made in the Cenozoic sedimentation period.
I believe all water on the planet came from space from the glacial belt. Life formed in the stagnant "primordial pools", Then over millions of years Earth traversed as part of its orbit through the glacial belts until we have the oceans we have today. The world becoming two thirds water had a larger mass so gravity pulled it away from the glacial belt so no more water. Maybe that change of mass killed the dinosaurs? Maybe instead of one huge meteor in Mexico it was thousands of glacial asteroids and possible one so large it caused the strike in bay of Mexico too large to evaporate in Earths atmosphere. Could that be what happened ? Gravity is a constant now but smaller planet less gravity. I find it hard to believe such huge animals could walk the earth with the gravity forces we know.
The debris of boulders eroded and carried down by glaciers will eventually form moraines (mounds) where the front of the glacier melts and retreats, leaving the debris behind. Moraines can be high and wide enough to form a dam, behind which glacial melt water is trapped and lakes are formed.
The boulders, sand, clay, and silt that are deposited by a glacier as it slows down and melts are called glacial till. This material is unsorted and varies in size, ranging from large boulders to fine silt. Glacial till is often found as moraines, which are accumulations of debris along the edges or at the terminus of a glacier.
You can identify deposited materials left by glacial ice deposits based on their composition, size, and sorting. Glacial deposits often consist of a mix of sediment sizes (clay to large boulders), show little sorting, and may have scratches or striations caused by the movement of ice. Additionally, the presence of erratics (rocks different from the surrounding material) can also indicate glacial deposition.
Glacial sediment is called "glacial till." It consists of a mixture of rock debris, ranging from fine silt to large boulders, that is deposited directly by glacial ice as it melts. This sediment is typically unsorted and unstratified, reflecting the chaotic nature of glacial movement. In addition to till, glacial sediments can also include other forms like outwash, which is sorted material carried away by meltwater.
Yes, there are glacial erratics and boulders in Georgia. These large rocks were transported by glaciers during the last Ice Age and are now found in various parts of the state, particularly in the northern regions. They serve as evidence of the region's glacial history.
Large boulders and smaller rocks can be carried by a river. When rocks and sediment are displaced, it's called erosion.
Glacial Cracks
Erratics are distinctive because they are large boulders or rocks that have been transported and deposited by glacial ice, often far from their source location. Unlike other glacial features, such as moraines or drumlins, erratics can be composed of rock types that are not found in the surrounding area, highlighting their unique origin. Their irregular shapes and sizes also set them apart from more uniform glacial deposits. Additionally, erratics are often found in contrasting geological contexts, making them notable landmarks in the landscape.
Large out-of-place boulders, often referred to as "erratics," are significant rock fragments that have been transported from their original location by natural forces, such as glacial movement, water flow, or landslides. These boulders can differ significantly in composition from the surrounding geological materials, indicating their origins from distant areas. Erratics provide important clues about past geological events and the processes that shaped the landscape. They are commonly found in glacial regions, where they were left behind as glaciers retreated.
The depressions left by melted blocks of ice in glacial deposits are called kettle holes. They are circular or oval-shaped depressions that form when large chunks of ice left behind by a retreating glacier become buried in sediment. When the ice eventually melts, it creates a hole in the ground.
Large deposits of glacial loess are primarily found in North America, Europe, and Asia. These regions were covered by ice sheets during the last ice age, and loess was deposited as the glaciers retreated, leaving behind fertile soil suitable for agriculture.
Common sediments produced by glaciers include till (unsorted mixture of rocks and sediment), moraine (deposits of till), outwash (sorted sediments deposited by meltwater), and glacial erratics (large boulders transported by glaciers from distant locations).