cover story
Ancient Stones
So you’re driving down a Prairie road and you happen to look
over your shoulder and see huge rocks scattered about like giant
marbles down the side of a ravine. “What is that?” you ask in
awe. I’m sure that would be your reaction as you first set eyes
upon these alien-looking structures.
These concretions, as they are known, were formed in prehistoric seas as layers
of sand, iron oxide and calcite (a carbonate material) gathered about a
core of matter such as shells, leaves and bones. As more and more layers of
this matter were added from deposits made by the circulating waters of the
ancient seas, the boulders became larger and larger. Some of the concretions
found at Red Rock Coulee, AB now measure up to 2.5 m in diameter and are
believed to be the largest ones in the world. These large, roundish, sandstone
boulders, which seem to emerge out of the Prairie landscape, are by far the
most distinctive and striking feature of the Red Rock Coulee Natural Area...
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