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Blockfield
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A blockfield[1] (also spelt block field[2]), felsenmeer,[1] boulder field[1][2] or stone field[2] is a surface covered by boulder- or block-sized rocks usually associated with a history of volcanic activity, alpine and subpolar climates and periglaciation. Blockfields differ from screes and talus slope in that blockfields do not apparently originate from mass wastings. They are believed to be formed by frost weathering below the surface.[3][4] An alternative theory that modern blockfields may have originated from chemical weathering that occurred in the Neogene when the climate was relatively warmer. Following this thought the blockfields would then have been reworked by periglacial action.[4][5]
Most known blockfields are located in the northern hemisphere. Examples can be found in Abisko National Park in Sweden, Snowdonia National Park in Wales, the Great End-Scafell Pike ridge in England, and Hickory Run Boulder Field and River of Rocks in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. All examples except the first one are outside present day subpolar climate areas, and have thus traditionally been seen as relict landforms from past times when these areas were under periglaciation.
The term "felsenmeer" comes from the German meaning "sea of rock". In a felsenmeer or blockfield, freeze-thaw weathering has broken up the top layer of the rock, covering the underlying rock formation with jagged, angular boulders. Freeze-thaw or frost weathering occurs when water that is trapped along microcracks in rock expands and contracts due to fluctuations in temperature above and below the freezing point. Felsenmeers are formed in situ, meaning that they are not transported during or after their creation.
Characteristics
[edit]Surface
[edit]Felsenmeers only form on slopes of 25° or lower. A steeper angle results in transport of the blocks due to gravity. This creates a talus slope, rather than a felsenmeer.[6] Crude sorting with boulder imbrication can occasionally be seen on the surface of felsenmeers.
Profile
[edit]The depth of the boulder field depends on the slope angle, rock types, age, and erosional history. However, a reasonable average for felsenmeer depth is approximately 1 m. Ballantyne (1998)[7] defines three types of felsenmeer profiles: Type 1 consists of boulders overlying a matrix of fines at some depth below the surface. Type 2 consists of boulders supported by a cohesionless sandy matrix that continues from the surface down through the profile. Type 3 also consists of boulders supported by a matrix, but differs from Type 2 in that the matrix consists of silt and/or clay rather than sand.
Occurrence
[edit]Due to the slope requirements they are most commonly found on plateaus.[8] Basalt and sedimentary rocks often produce larger, more numerous felsenmeers than other types of rock.[9] Blockfields are most often found in high mountain periglacial regions near the Arctic Circle, especially in Iceland, the Canadian arctic and Norway and are still active in parts of Central Europe that were not covered by ice sheets.[2] In the Southern Hemisphere inactive blockfields can be found in the Lesotho Highlands,[10] and the Prince Edward Islands.[11]
Age
[edit]Felsenmeers are, typically, relatively young geomorphological features. Most felsenmeers formed during or since the last ice age (approximately 20,000 years ago). Others may be pre-glacial features that survived glaciation beneath cold-based glaciers.[12] Their specific age can be determined using surface exposure dating, a technique that works best on materials which have been exposed to cosmic rays with little interference from trees or soils.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Whittow, John (1984). Dictionary of Physical Geography. London: Penguin, 1984, pp. 66 and 190. ISBN 0-14-051094-X.
- ^ a b c d Leser, Hartmut, ed. (2005). Wörterbuch Allgemeine Geographie, 13th ed., dtv, Munich, pp. 107 and 221. ISBN 978-3-423-03422-7.
- ^ Thomas, David S.G. and Andrew Goudie (eds.), The Dictionary of Physical Geography, 3rd edn., Oxford: Blackwell, 2000, p. 215. ISBN 0-631-20473-3.
- ^ a b Goodfellow, B.W.; Stroeven, A.P.; Fabel, D.; Fredin, O.; M.-H., Derron; Bintnja, R.; Caffee, M.W. (2014). "Arctic–alpine blockfields in the northern Swedish Scandes: late Quaternary – not Neogene". Earth Surface Dynamics. 2 (2): 383–401. Bibcode:2014ESuD....2..383G. doi:10.5194/esurf-2-383-2014. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
- ^ Boelhouwers, Jan (2004). "New Perspectives on Autochthonous Blockfield Development". Polar Geography. 28 (2): 133–146. doi:10.1080/789610122. S2CID 129295656.
- ^ Dahl, R. (1966) Block fields, weathering pits and tor-like forms in the Narvik Mountains, Nordland, Norway. Geografiska Annaler A 48, 55-85.
- ^ Ballantyne, C.K. (1998). Age and significance of mountain-top detritus. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 9, 327-345
- ^ Huggett, John Richard. Fundamentals of Geomorphology, 3rd edn., Routledge, 2011, p. 147.
- ^ The New Encyclopædia Britannica, Volume 8; Volume 14, 1998.
- ^ Sumner, P.D. (2004). "Geomorphic and climatic implications of relict openwork block accumulations near Thabana-Ntlenyana, Lesotho". Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography. 86 (3): 289–302. doi:10.1111/j.0435-3676.2004.00232.x. S2CID 128774864.
- ^ Boelhouwers, Jan; Holness, Steve; Sumner, Paul (2003). "The maritime Subantarctic: a distinct periglacial environment". Geomorphology. 52 (1). Elsevier: 39–55. Bibcode:2003Geomo..52...39B. doi:10.1016/S0169-555X(02)00247-7.
- ^ Matthews, John A. (ed.), Encyclopedia of Environmental Change, 3-volume set, Swansea: Sage, 2014.
Blockfield
View on GrokipediaDefinition and Terminology
Definition
A blockfield is a landform consisting of a continuous surface cover of large, angular to subangular rock blocks derived from the in situ weathering of underlying bedrock, typically forming a chaotic or pavement-like expanse on relatively flat or gently sloping terrain.[6][1] Unlike scree slopes or talus accumulations, which result from mass wasting and gravitational transport down steep inclines, blockfields are autochthonous features where the clasts remain largely in place with minimal lateral movement.[1] The blocks are typically boulder-sized, distinguishing them from thinner rock veneers.[6] These clasts are predominantly composed of resistant lithologies such as quartzite, granite, or other quartz-rich rocks that weather into durable fragments. Blockfields typically exhibit an openwork structure at the surface with minimal fine-grained material, though fines may increase below the surface.[1] Blockfields are commonly associated with periglacial environments, where such surfaces have developed under cold climate conditions.[7]Related Terms
The term "blockfield" derives from the German "Blockfeld," literally translating to "field of blocks," and is synonymous with "Felsenmeer," meaning "sea of rocks." These terms describe extensive surfaces covered by angular rock blocks, with "Felsenmeer" emphasizing the undulating, sea-like appearance of such accumulations.[8] The nomenclature originated in German-speaking regions of Europe amid debates on the extent of past glaciations and the role of frost action in shaping high-elevation terrains.[9] In English-language literature, "blockfield" emerged as the preferred term during the mid-20th century, particularly in periglacial studies exploring cold-climate weathering beyond glaciated zones.[10] Similarly, "protalus ramparts" refer to arcuate debris ridges formed below cliffs by frost shattering and limited downslope movement, sharing formation processes with blockfields but differing in morphology and confinement to steeper slopes. Blockfields represent a key periglacial landform, often preserved on nunataks or plateaus.[1]Formation Processes
Weathering Mechanisms
Mechanical weathering dominates the formation of blockfields, primarily through frost action involving repeated freeze-thaw cycles that exploit existing fractures in the bedrock. Water infiltrates joints and pores, expands upon freezing by approximately 9%, and generates wedging forces that propagate cracking, leading to granular disaggregation at the mineral scale and eventual detachment of discrete blocks.[1] Insolation, or thermal expansion from diurnal temperature fluctuations, contributes to surface cracking, particularly in exposed quartz-rich lithologies, while cryoturbation—driven by frost heaving and solifluction—further disrupts and sorts the regolith, enhancing block isolation.[3] Chemical weathering plays a subordinate role in blockfield development, mainly through hydrolysis and oxidation processes that preferentially affect accessory minerals in quartz-rich rocks such as quartzite and granite.[11] Hydrolysis involves the reaction of water with silicate minerals, as exemplified by the breakdown of quartz:where silicic acid () forms, slowly widening joints by dissolving mineral edges.[12] Oxidation targets iron-bearing phases, producing secondary oxides that further enlarge fractures, though overall chemical alteration remains minimal due to the low reactivity of dominant quartz components. The formation sequence begins with initial joint-controlled fracturing of the bedrock, where pre-existing tectonic or stress-relief joints (typically spaced 1–5 meters apart) serve as primary planes of weakness. This is followed by progressive exfoliation, in which parallel sheeting develops from unloading or thermal stresses, and continued frost action isolates individual blocks over millennia, creating a pavement of angular clasts up to several meters in diameter.[1] The rate of these weathering processes is influenced by rock type and joint spacing. Quartzite, with its low porosity and high resistance to chemical breakdown, experiences slower overall weathering compared to more fractured granites or gneisses, preserving block integrity longer. Closer joint spacing accelerates mechanical breakdown by providing more entry points for water and ice, whereas wider spacing in massive rocks prolongs the isolation phase. These mechanisms typically operate under periglacial conditions, where seasonal freeze-thaw is recurrent.[1]
