In a complex chemical process, the minerals cemented the particles together. (New Zealand Department of Conservation). According to scientists, the formation of these concretions began approximately 60 million years ago within the muddy Paleocene marine sediments of the Moeraki Formation. The canoe wrecked near Shag Point (Matakaea) and the cargo washed ashore. Over the years, the Moeraki Boulders have been taken as souvenirs and even turned into cement. Does the Kaimanawa Wall Re-Write New Zealand’s History? In 2013, scientists found a Late Cretaceous shark vertebrae in an outcropping of boulders at Koutu. ( Log Out /  The 4-million-year age on the tourist sign is another example of the constant indoctrination of the public into the belief system of millions of years… The main body of the boulders started forming in what was then marine mud, near the surface of the Paleocene sea floor. This was one of the top items on my New Zealand bucketlist (fly around the world to look at weird rocks, go figure). This week, Kate and I went on a little adventure to explore all of these awesome places! The larger boulders are estimated to have formed over a period of 4 million years. The underlaying sand of the boulders was slowly washed away by the wind and water moving the individual boulders towards the ocean. Some 60 million years ago, the concretions we know as the Moeraki boulders started forming on the ocean floor. Coming from the north – Oamuru to Moeraki. For those who don’t want to get their feet sandy, there is also a viewing platform overlooking the area. Weighing Human Souls – The 21 Grams Theory, Gases that expand when the organic centers decompose, Earthquakes or compaction that caused fractures. If she's not plunging down the SEO rabbit hole, she's visiting some ancient site in Italy, where she currently lives in the middle of an active caldera. The largest rocks are around 3 meter in diameter and weigh several tons. Valley of Balls – Torysh, Mangystau Province, Western Kazakhstan. However, most photos you see of the boulders from google or postcards are quite outdated. Most of the Otago concretions are round – some of them almost perfectly – while others are more ovoid or slightly irregular in shape. The Pobiti Kamani Stone Forest of Bulgaria The 4-million-year age on the tourist sign is another example of the constant indoctrination of the public into the belief system of millions of years… Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), While you wait for sunset, go for coffee (I’m not on that bandwagon, but apparently some people like it) and dessert at, After you’ve successfully induced a sugar coma, take a quick 5-minute drive to the. The raw beauty of New Zealand has remained intact over the years, its natural glory still relatively unaffected, glimpses of which we could see during our drive through the South Island. But, drive out to the area in the late afternoon to really make a trip out of it. One said, “Have a cupcake then have another” and the other was a black and white photo of the Moeraki boulders. Proposals include tide action (rolling and wearing down), gravity, or factors of sedimentary pressure. The boulders at Moeraki on the North Otago coast have speculated over for hundreds of years. Walter Mantell was a politician and scientist of geology and paleontology. Source: Wikimedia, Pseudopanax, public domain. The underlaying sand of the boulders was slowly washed away by the wind and water moving the individual boulders towards the ocean. They range in size from about 1.5 meters to a little over 2 meters. The larger boulders are estimated to have taken 4 to 5.5 million years to grow, while 10 to 50m of marine mud accumulated on the seafloor above them. Technically you have to pay $2 per person to use that walkway. Along Highway 1, there is a hidden beach that contains a high density of concretions. Appearing like a congregation of planets, the stones, with their sheer size and nearly perfect shapes, give birth to an alien landscape. The Moeraki boulders date from the Paleocene epoch which translates as the early recent. The Moeraki Boulders are a composite of mud, silt, and clay, held together by calcite, all of which formed under the surrounding cliffs before erosion etched the softer sandy material around the boulders, depositing them on the shore. Foggy day on the Koekohe beach. One such example is the phenomenon of the Moeraki Boulders which, through the years have been objects of absorbing interest to the thousands who have visited the locality. “Midway between the Bluff and Moeraki, the clay contains layers of septaria [concretions], varying from one to five feet and more in diameter. Over time, wave action eroded away the softer sediments to reveal the giant stones. Here’s the official Katharina Moeraki Boulder Itinerary: Geological Society of New Zealand: 2003 Conference Field Trip Guide. (“FINALLY! On Moeraki beach you’ll count over 50 boulders of different sizes. This steppe site is near the town of Shetpe. Maori legends provide one explanation of the boulders’ creation, while science proposes others. Thieves break off and carry pieces of the boulders. We … However, I do have a disclaimer: initially, it was a bit of a let down. It is home to gigantic round and irregular concretions averaging 3-4 meters in diameter. The largest of the spheres took up to 5 million years to grow to their fullest form. Mysteries in the Plain of Jars, Laos. is that the Moeraki Boulders started forming on the ocean floor over 60 million years ago and centuries of coastline erosion have revealed a spectacular view of these curiously large spherical boulders. Sexiness of Stink: Historical Attraction to Body Odor. Note: They’re well known for their actual meals, but it is a tad bit pricey. One layer at a time, the boulders grew larger over the years. However, over time this eventually becomes less effective and the boulders end up in clusters as we find them now, individually eroding. Each boulder weighs several tonnes and is up to two metres high.Scientists explain the boulders as calcite concretions formed about 65 million years ago. To find out more: The Moeraki Boulders, 1997. Sedimentary particles and minerals, such as calcite, aggregated around the organic matter in concentric layers (layer upon layer). Scientists believe the boulders to be calcite concretions which were formed an estimated 65 million years ago. Although I now live in Brisbane I was born in Dunedin & lived there for 70 years. They have inspired many legends. It’s thought to have taken 4 million years for the Moeraki Boulders to reach the size they are now. Source: Wikimedia, pseudopanax, public domain. However, documentation of the Moeraki Boulders did not take place until European involvement. Plus, dessert for dinner? Mount St. Helens Eruption of 1980 with Photos... Boötes Void: What is This Patch of Space... Celtic Goddess Brigid and Her Enduring Deity. However, the scientific community is still debating the exact process that results in this smooth round shape. There are currently over 50 boulders on the beach, the largest weighing around 7 tons. In geological terms that may well be true, but that means that the boulders are at least fifty six million years old. Damage seen on some of the softer boulders at Moeraki. Baskets and gourds that had carried eels and water also washed ashore, preserving the cargo for all time as the giant boulders along the Otago Coast of South Island. There is so much to see over on this side of the country, Moeraki Boulders, Fleurs Cafe, Katiki Point lighthouse, Moeraki town and so much more! As you can see from the photos below, the Moeraki Boulders are quite large, some reaching up to 15, 400 lbs (7 tonne) and can measure more than 9 feet across (3m). The Moeraki Boulders are located on Koekohe Beach, between the towns of Moerkai and Hampden – a 30 minute drive south from Oamuru and about an hour north from Dunedin. His work on Iguanodon had a significant influence on the study of dinosaurs. It may be that the Moeraki Boulders formed within sediment that was soft enough to allow mineral-rich water to flow through the muddy particles. Although the concretions at this site are very similar to the ones on the Otago Coast, the Koutu site has even larger examples, ranging up to 5 meters. Large boulders shaped like nearly perfect … But science has finally solved the mystery: the formation of these rocks began approximately 60 million years ago. Although their massive size and odd surface patterns are unique, round stones in nature are quite common. The underlaying sand of the boulders was slowly washed away by the wind and water moving the individual boulders towards the ocean. As part of his work, he documented the concretions in a seaside sketch dated to 1848. However, the region welcomes visitors who are always eager to catch a glimpse of the natural wonders. So, my rock-loving self was still happy. One version of the story tells that long ago, the Kähui Tipua people sailed out on an expedition to the mythical land of Hawaiiki in their double-hulled waka (canoe) called the Arai Te Uru. Without resistance or lack of material from any one direction, the concretions were able to form equally and nearly perfectly from each directional point. According to scientists, the formation of these concretions began approximately 60 million years ago within the muddy Paleocene marine sediments of the Moeraki Formation. Image Credit Flickr User RossHuggett Our own mammalian ancestors during that epoch were mostly small and rodent like. Moeraki Boulders, New Zealand. Ahum. A shattered Moeraki Boulder reveals a colorful core. Tom Hall/CC BY 2.0. The process continued and the concretions grew slowly over millions of years. Tourists can walk the beach to get a close-up view. Apparently there are still boulders in the cliffs waiting to drop onto the beach! Although the place is now protected, it continues to be plundered. Wellington, NZ: Geological Society of New Zealand in Association with GNS Science, 2008. There are currently over 50 boulders on the beach, the largest weighing around 7 tons. This is a 10-minute one-way walk to the boulders. Moeraki Boulders on the beach in New Zealand. There are over 50 boulders on the beach, which range in size from 0.5m to just over 2.2m but can also be up to 3 meters wide. The Moeraki Boulders were the first “Pinterest destination” I crossed off my list after arriving in New Zealand. But in fact the Moeraki Boulders are concretions - formations created by hardening sea sediment -  that have been exposed through sea erosion Date from … Historic Mysteries is an Amazon Associate and earns from qualifying purchases. It was a beautiful afternoon and I popped the back of the van open and put the kettle on for some hot water to take with me as I walked for a while down the beach towards the famous boulders. Taking around 4 million years to form their current size. Interesting history topics are just a click away. The occurrence of septaria is a rather mysterious process and scientists are not exactly sure what causes them. With that being said, there are still quite a few, and from a geologic standpoint there is no denying the marvels that they are. Before scientific inquiry, humans viewed the world and nature from a magical and wondrous perspective. Each may have started as a core of fossil shell, bone fragment, or piece of wood. A more boring explanation (but not to the geologists!) Hundreds of these nodules, which had been washed out of the undermined clay cliffs by the encroachment of the sea, were scattered along the beach, as represented in the sketch, fig. Accept Read More, The Pobiti Kamani Stone Forest of Bulgaria. Each concretion began with an organic nucleus, “such as a leaf, cone, shell, fish-bone, or other relic of plant or animal” (Geikie:96). Beginning 65 million years ago, this rock formation spans about half of the tertiary period (through the Paleocene, Eocene and Oligocene) ending about 13 million years ago. Take a walk to the Moeraki Boulders – geological marvels, exposed by erosion of sedimentary rocks laid down from 13 to 65 million years ago.. How long will it take? Moeraki is now most famous for its boulders; mysteriously spherical stones scattered across a beach. Fossilized clay and mud are found in the center, around which sediments such as calcite have accumulated. ALSO, (non-geology related) suggestion for anyone who plans to make a visit to the boulders… Go at sunset. People sometimes mistake the Moeraki Boulders for dinosaur eggs, alien remnants, or evidence of giants. As the sedimentary rock layers the boulders formed in are were eroded away, the harder, more resistant concretions were left behind. The largest is over 2.2m in diameter and weighs more than 7 tonnes. The hull of the canoe magically became a reef near the Waihemo River Mouth. It took about 4 million years for the Boulders to get to their current size; There are over 50 boulders on the Koekohe Beach; The largest boulders weigh 7 tons and are 2-3 meters wide; There used to be many more Moeraki Boulders (based on old photos) but bad tourists took the smaller ones as souvenirs, so only those too heavy to move are left. A Net Inceptions project. While similar features are found around the world, these boulders are remarkable for their size, up to 2m diameter, and their almost spherical shape. I have visited the site many times & each time is different. The cracked surface of this Moeraki Boulder creates a geometric or turtle-back design. 1 The tiny fragments however began forming about 60 million years … Let’s call it fate that I was just drawn to the beauty of New Zealand. Textbook of Geology. They are now legally protected from removal or vandalism. The Moeraki Boulders are huge spherical rocks on Koekohe Beach on the Otago coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Moeraki Bed and Breakfast; Moeraki Holiday Rentals; Moeraki Holiday Packages; Moeraki Flights; Moeraki Restaurants; Moeraki Attractions; Moeraki Travel Forum; Moeraki Photos; Moeraki Map; Moeraki Guide; All Moeraki Hotels; Moeraki Hotel Deals; By Hotel Type. Not all concretions are round, although many of them that form in layers of sediment tend to be spherical. The Boulders are about 40km (approx 30 minutes drive) … We parked at the Moeraki Boulders car park, where there’s a café and (of course) souvenir shop.From there starts a walkway leading down to the beach. To visit the boulders, head to Koekohe Beach, between Moeraki and Hampden on State Highway 1. The Moeraki boulders date from the Paleocene epoch which translates as the early recent. The local Maori culture values a connection with nature and the preservation of its resources. How Were the Moeraki Boulders Formed? A storm engulfed the Arai Te Uru during the return journey and the hulled voyager wrecked off the Otago Coast at a place called Shag Point. Questions about the universe sparked colorful myths and legends that are still intriguing even today, and the Maori legend about the stones on the Otago Coast is no exception. In geological terms that may well be true, but that means that the boulders are at least fifty six million years old. A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. These boulders are located on Koekohe beach. New Zealand!” I can hear the cheers from Texas already.). The biggest boulders weigh 7 tons and measure over 2 metres across. Subsequently, Geologic activity caused an uplifting of the mudstone out of the sea to create the cliffs along the beach. These are known as types of concretions which are mineral-cemented masses that often form within layers of sediment. Crescere, means ‘to grow,’ and con, means ‘together.’ Hence, the stones are giant balls of sediments that have grown together over time in a process of cementation. ( Log Out /  Koutu – Hokianga District, North Island, New Zealand. I’ve made three visits to the Moreaki Boulders and I know I haven’t seen the last of them. I first saw the Moeraki Boulders while browsing ‘New Zealand Attractions’ on Pinterest some time ago, and I just knew we had to get there. Moeraki is a small fishing village on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand.It was once the location of a whaling station. Some were subglobular, [Quote continues…] 1850.] Bowling Ball Beach – Schooner Gulch State Beach, California, USA, north of Gualala. The Moeraki Boulders are one of 101-must do’s for kiwis and tourists in … The Moeraki Boulders are concretions created by the cementation of the Paleocene mudstone of the Moeraki Formation, from which they have been exhumed by coastal erosion. An exceptionally round concretion in the Moeraki Boulders cluster in New Zealand. Some of the boulders weigh several tonnes and the largest ones can be over 2 metres wide! The Mysteries of New Zealand’s Kaimanawa Wall. Moeraki Boulders – Photo Credit: Donald Manlapaz, Moeraki Boulders – Photo Credit: Jason Chua. The word ‘concretion’ comes from two Latin words. A number of the spheres are cracked and display a turtle-like mosaic. It goes on to say that the ship’s commander has taken shape of a prominent rock nearby and the local mountains were given the names of those aboard. Now a new study which investigated the famous features of the Otago coast, exposed by erosion of sedimentary rocks laid down from 65 to 13 million years ago, has shed more light on how they and other "concretions" have formed. The larger boulders are estimated to have formed over a period of 4 million years. The boulders range anywhere from 3ft-7ft in diameter, and weigh several tons. Like the Moeraki Boulders, these are also spherical cannonball concretions. I had no idea then that these boulders were in New Zealand. Kimberly will continue to venture around the world and write about the history she encounters. Legend has it that the boulders are the food baskets and gourds strewn across the beach and the canoe’s hull has become the reef that extends into the sea. 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