Geology Challenge
Stop #1: For Those About to Rock…
As you look out from this stop you will see the beaches of Awenda are littered with rocks of all different shapes, colours, and sizes. Amazingly, almost all were transported here from the Canadian Shield by the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet and dropped 12,000 years ago due to warming temperatures.
Some of the rocks you may find along Awenda’s beaches include igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
Take the Igneous Challenge:
Igneous rock forms when molten magma solidifies and cools. This can occur deep underground in the Earth’s crust and is a slow process that allows large crystals to grow and form intrusive igneous rocks. Igneous rock can also form from rapidly cooling lava at the Earth’s surface, which forms very fine crystals and extrusive igneous rocks.
Granite is a type of intrusive igneous rock which has a coarse-grained texture. Granite is typically lighter in colour and lacks an alignment of grains within the rock.
As you walk, find an example of an igneous rock. How common are these volcanic beauties?
Next Up: Head to Stop #2
- Head west, or to your left when facing the bay, down the beach.
- Find the wooden post labelled Stop #2, and click on Next Up: Stop #2 below.