Thursday, January 26, 2012

Map of Pancake Rocks,

The rock formation Pancake Rocks is located at Punakaiki West Coast,New Zealand. I have only traveled to Auckland and Rotorua which are located on the North island, but I would love to travel to the South island to visit this lovely geological site.

Pancake Rocks are irregular in shape and the formation of their layers, and are surrounded by blowholes. The rocks are limestone country, and each of the layers are a combination of resistant bands of limestone that are separated by thin, softer, mud-rich layers. This layering is common to limestone and it is called stylobedding.

The cause of stylobedding is believed not a natural formation,
but by compaction. The blowholes are also the contributing factor.
The erosion by the water, wind, and salt spray have all created the
pancake layering.


  

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