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How do erratic boulders end up far from their original source?

Quick Answer

Glaciers carry huge rocks embedded in the ice and drop them when the ice melts.

The Full Story

Erratic boulders are rocks that do not match the local bedrock where they are found. Glaciers can pick up large fragments from one region and transport them many kilometers, sometimes over long distances and across different rock types. When the ice melts, the boulders are left behind as isolated blocks. Because their composition can be traced back to the source area, erratics provide evidence of ancient ice-sheet movement.

Key Facts

1.Glaciers transport rocks long distances
2.Erratics often differ from local bedrock
3.They help trace former ice-sheet flow

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The giant rock dropped by a melting glacier"

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