Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand
Some 60 million years ago, sediment was accumulating on the sea floor, with small fragments such as shells and plants within it. Calcite slowly built up around organic nuclei, forming spherical nodules with harder outer layers while the inner material dehydrated to give cracks which spread radially out to the rim. The cracks themselves filled with varying mineral deposits as groundwater conditions changed. The largest boulders are thought to have taken more than four million years to form. Following uplift onto the landmass of New Zealand in a period of mountain building, erosion was able to expose the Palaeocene mudstone beds that contain the boulders and from which they continue slowly to emerge. The effects of weathering have removed some of the outer layers, allowing the inner structure to be seen and breaking up some boulders. - SOURCE
I think those would be really cool to see in person.
ReplyDeleteI did see them last September while driving to Christchurch from Dunedin
ReplyDeleteWhatever your belief is in the earth's historical timeline, it is up for debate. Whether these amazing works of time and nature were created 60 million years ago or six days ago is of no consequence. What seems important to me is to appreciate what the past has given us and to ask what is still to be discovered. And which of those discoveries will benefit life on earth, its human population and ecosystems, which will ultimately lead to a little more time for this planet, an insignificant orb in the universe that seems intent on destroying itself from within.
ReplyDeleteThe boulders are built up like pearls in their structure.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting!
ReplyDeleteFascinating , thanks. You are a wealth of information.
ReplyDeleteSean - *blush*
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