September 9, 2013

Monday Geology Picture(s): More Glacial Erratics on the Lake

Posted by Evelyn Mervine

Setting off by kayak to explore the glacial erratics of Franklin Pierce Lake.

Setting off by kayak to explore the glacial erratics of Franklin Pierce Lake. Note the glacial erratic in the background.

Last week, I shared a picture of me sunbathing by my favorite glacial erratic, which is located near the Mervine Family Cabin on Franklin Pierce Lake in New Hampshire. This week, I thought I’d share a few more pictures of glacial erratics on Franklin Pierce Lake. Note the large sizes of these erratics and also how many of them are fairly angular. The erratics are mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks, and many of them contain large feldspar crystals.

I took all of the pictures in this post during a few kayaking trips during a recent visit to my family in New Hampshire. I really enjoy observing geology by kayak– I should do so more often!

My favorite glacial erratic, located on a little island near the Mervine Family Cabin.

My favorite glacial erratic, located on a little island near the Mervine Family Cabin.

Some quite large erratic boulders!

Some quite large erratic boulders!

Angular erratic boulders. Note the front of my kayak for scale.

Angular erratic boulders. Note the front of my kayak for scale.

Another view of an angular erratic boulder.

Another view of an angular erratic boulder.

A close-up view of the angular erratic boulder in the previous picture.

A close-up view of the angular erratic boulder in the previous picture.

Several erratic boulders.

Several erratic boulders.

I found this erratic boulder particularly interesting (note the large feldspar phenocrysts and interesting texture):

A particularly interesting erratic boulder. Check out those large feldspars!

A particularly interesting erratic boulder. Check out those large feldspars!

A closer view of the interesting erratic.

A closer view of the interesting erratic.