Moeraki Boulders at sunset, South Island, New Zealand
© Douglas Pearson/eStock Photo
Rocks and rollers
Are you ready to rock the new year? Today is Old Rock Day, a day to celebrate and learn about ancient rocks and fossils. Although rocks are common, few of us take the time to consider how remarkable they are. Forged in volcanoes or moulded by millennia of pressure, these solid masses of minerals hold the key to understanding how our planet formed. Rocks can also contain fossils, the remnants of long-extinct organisms. Canada is home to some jaw-dropping geological wonders. Take Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, for example. These giant, flowerpot-like formations were carved by the Bay of Fundy's massive tides, which rise and fall by up to 14 metres daily. Then there's the Mingan Archipelago in Quebec. This collection of limestone monoliths, shaped by waves and wind, is over 450 million years old.
Now, since we’re talking about rocks, one of the world's most curious displays can be found on Koekohe Beach in New Zealand. The Moeraki Boulders, some of which are 2 metres in diameter, have been shaped by nature over millions of years. Each boulder began as a pebble on the seabed around 65 million years ago. Over time, layers of mud and silt built up around them, cemented together by calcite. Thanks to erosion and the movement of the sea, the boulders eventually emerged. Today, new boulders continue to appear, while the elements gradually break down the existing ones.