Madison Boulder
Quick Summary
An erratic is a rock fragment, often a boulder, that has been transported by glaciers from its original location to a different area. These transported rocks differ from the local bedrock and can range in size from pebbles to massive boulders weighing thousands of tons.12
The Madison Boulder in New Hampshire is an example of an erratic. It is a large glacial boulder that was carried by glaciers far from its original source. Studies of erratics help scientists understand the direction of glacial movement and the extent of past ice ages.31
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
