Friday Rock Blogging: Mud : Green Gabbro

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Maria Brumm has a Master's degree... in Earth Science! She lives in Seattle, WA, where she works in environmental consulting.

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Friday Rock Blogging: Mud

Category: Rock Blogging
Posted on: March 7, 2008 7:48 AM, by Maria Brumm

Picture courtesy reader Martin. Or maybe Martin doesn't actually read this blog, and it's just Wren. Anyway, thanks, Wren and Martin!

Today's rock is a geopuzzle: What's up with these ridges? How did they get there, and what determines their size?

I don't actually know the answer, so this is the best hint you're going to get out of me.

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Comments

Based on your clue, this is clearly a strange phenomenon that exists only along the border of Wales and England, possibly due to a secret EM fence between them :)

Posted by: Ellery | March 7, 2008 8:45 AM

Could it be that a tidal bore moves up this waterway and when the tide drops, these ridges of sediment result from erosion?

Posted by: cope | March 7, 2008 8:54 AM

No comment, since I have no clue -- I just love Friday rock blogging.

Posted by: delagar | March 7, 2008 9:26 AM

Just guessing here, but looking at the raised edges and their shadows, I'm wondering if this is mud that has run over a tilted slate bed, or some such similar structure.

Posted by: chezjake | March 7, 2008 10:00 AM

Overbank flood deposit? Control: duration and size of flood

A semi careened off the m48 and into the water and created a big wave. Control: Size of semi.

Posted by: Ben | March 7, 2008 10:05 AM

Well geez, let's bring the entire aviary in on this! I think these waveforms are actually mimicking the wingbeats of an unladen swallow. The real question is... African or European?

Posted by: Ron Schott | March 7, 2008 10:06 AM

I wonder if the pylons of the bridge there play some role in the formation.

Posted by: Owen | March 7, 2008 10:23 AM

Ooo! The M48! The road that takes me home. This picture is making me homesick for the Severn, there's some great fossil hunting to be done along there... sigh

Anyway. Before I saw the larger picture I was going to say that they were current formed ripples as there is definite bifurcation on some of those crests.

Posted by: Laura | March 7, 2008 10:47 AM

hmmm...at first glance, the features have an erosional rather than depositional look to them ... I might have to agree with cope above...something along those lines.

Posted by: BrianR | March 13, 2008 1:07 PM