Geology of Middlesex County
ESKER TRAIL - ACTON ARBORETUM, ACTON, MA
On the esker trail at the Acton Arboretum, we came across a long, winding ridge. We identified this feature as an esker.
Maddie on the esker
FORMATION
An esker is formed when an ice tunnel inside a glacier becomes filled with sediment. When the glacier melts, the sediment is left behind and it becomes a long, winding, stratified (well sorted) formation. Eskers run parallel to where the glacier once was.
Water and sediment flowing through a tunnel
A long, winding, stratified ridge left behind
It was very obvious that the feature at the arboretum was an esker because of the characteristics that this feature had. The esker at the arboretum was made up of stratified material. It was also long and windy.
The feature was running generally north to south. Eskers run parallel to the direction the glacier was flowing, and the esker was going north to south. This means that the ice sheet was running north to south as well, and was retreating to the north. The esker, as well as the kame delta at Author's Ridge, both show that the glacier was retreating towards the north.
The feature was running generally north to south. Eskers run parallel to the direction the glacier was flowing, and the esker was going north to south. This means that the ice sheet was running north to south as well, and was retreating to the north. The esker, as well as the kame delta at Author's Ridge, both show that the glacier was retreating towards the north.
Map of the Acton Arboretum - esker is located by the pink marking
From the top of the esker
