Rock and Garden

Waterford, CT  2021

 

Glacial Erratics

Groton, CT  2020

 

Jetty

Niantic, CT  2020

There is no shortage of large rocks and boulders in Connecticut.  The southeast part of the state used to have a number of quarries that provided granite for building projects all over the country.  Some of rock ended up in break walls and jetties along the Connecticut coast.  Notice the holes and cuts made in these rocks that were made to aid the transportation of these boulders from local quarries. 

Boulder

Niantic, CT  2018

I think this might be considered an erratic, a large rock deposited by a glacier.  Connecticut was covered by a glacier as recently as 15,000 years ago and boulders like this are plentiful in this area.

I will be taking a short break from blogging as I continue my recovery from recent surgeries.  I'm doing well, but have lacked the stamina to to take photo walks.  I've gone through my recent archives and have published what I consider to be some of the more interesting images.  As I regain my strength, I hope to get out more frequently.  Until then, my posts here will be rather sporadic.  

Toad Rock

Niantic, CT  2018

When walking the trail running through our condo community here, once can find this local landmark.  I guess it sort of looks like a toad.  At one time there was a school nearby going by the name of Toad Rock School.

2017 in Review - November -

Niantic, CT  2017

Rock Pile

Niantic, CT  2017

I think this is what is left after the last glaciers melted from Connecticut, over 15,000 years ago.  

Rocky Shore

Niantic, CT  2017

The snow is from last Wednesday's blizzard, which left us with about 8-10" of snow.  More snow is on the way.

Boulders

Waterford, CT  2016

Terrace and Wall

Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic, CT  2016

I like the way the the architects and builders of this pavilion  made it fit right into the local geology, using boulders from nearby quarries as well the boulders that were right at the site.  This state park really lives up to its name. 

The Pavilion at Rocky Neck State Park

Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic, CT  2016

No matter how often I see or photograph this pavilion, it never ceases to amaze me.  It's one of the many results of the Works Progress Administration, (WPA) and was completed in 1936.

Red Rocks

South Burlington, VT  2015

Here's another interesting geologic formation seen along the shores of Lake Champlain.  The red color of these rocks comes from the high iron oxide content.  The sediments forming these rocks were laid down 500 million years ago when Vermont was close to the equator and under a tropical sea.  Over time the sediments became cemented into sandstone.  The heat and pressure which resulted from tectonic forces about 450 million years ago changed the sandstone into quartzite seen today.  This is part of the Monkton Quartzite formation.  This rock was quarried and can be found in some of the redstone buildings in Burlington and on the campus of the University of Vermont. 

Lone Rock Point - The Champlain Thrust

Lake Champlain, 2015

Lake Champlain was formed when the last glaciers receded about 12,000 years ago.  It's hard to believe but this whole region was under 1-2 miles of ice.  Shortly after the glaciers receded, this land was below sea level due to the weight of the ice.  This allowed the Atlantic Ocean to flow into the lake via the St Lawrence River, so at one time this was a body of salt water.  The land rebounded above sea level, and over a period of time the salt water was slowly replaced with fresh water.  This photo shows a very famous geological feature known as the Champlain Thrust, a thrust fault where older rocks were forced over younger rocks .

No Place to Fish

Hammonasset State Park, Madison, CT  2015

A good portion of the shoreline in Connecticut looks just like this.  The are some nice beaches interspersed amongst the rocks however.  Makes it pretty difficult to find a good fishing spot.

View from the Moraine Trail

Hammonasset State Park, Madison, CT  2015

About 21,000 years ago, all of Connecticut and Long Island were covered by glacier ice which was about 1 mile thick.  The flow of the glaciers carried along rocks like these, which would pile up at the end of the glacier, where the rate of melting/evaporation, was equal to the rate of advancement of the glacier, forming what is a called moraine.  All of Long Island was formed by this process. 

White Mountains II

Gorham, NH  2015

Granitic Gneiss

Rocky  Neck State Park, Niantic, CT  2015

This boulder is typical of the geology found at Rocky Neck State Park.  It's granitic gneiss, a metamorphic rock which forms under intense heat and pressure.  Minerals found in this gneiss can include quartz, garnet, tourmaline and biotite.  The gneiss found here is a part of a large formation of rocks known as Potter Hill Granite Gneiss.

Source: The Geology of Rocky Neck State Park

Shrub

Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic, CT  2015

It always amazes me how a small tree like this is able to survive amidst the granite boulders.  There is hardly any soil in which to take root.  It certainly is a hardy little tree. 

Rocks and Vines

North Stonington, CT

Niantic Bay Waves

Niantic, CT  2014

Unlike the beaches I used to frequent along the New Jersey shore, beaches along Long Island sound don't normally get large waves.  There have been exceptions, however, especially when tropical storms and hurricanes come our way.  Most of the time, the waves look like this.