Pathological Geomorphology

Hard to define, but we all know it when we see it.

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    Salt Glaciers, Iran

    Saltglacier

    Not all glaciers are ice. The anticlines of the Zagros fold and thrust belt in Iran are cored with salt diapirs that, when they breach the surface, the salt flows into the valleys between the folds under gravity forming salt glaciers.  Salt glaciers move more in winter when it is wetter and have a dark colour from clay inclusions.

    The flashearth image is here.  A 3D ASTER image of the same region can be found here courtesy of the NASA Earth Observatory.  
    Tags » desert folds salt glacier
    • 16 February 2010
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    over 2 years ago Kyle House responded:
    Kyle House
    Undeniably bizarre. See also:
    http://geology.mines.edu/faculty/btrudgil/research.html
    For some imagery and discussion of these things.
    over 2 years ago Callan Bentley responded:
    Callan Bentley
    Holy cow. Makes sense -- but I had no idea. PATHOLOGICAL.
    Are there any glaciers made of compounds other than salt or ice?
    over 2 years ago Ian Stimpson responded:
    Ian Stimpson
    Rock clasts can form rock glaciers, either with some ice as rock glaciers sensu stricto but you could probable argue that some landslides are effectively rock glaciers senso lato.
    about 1 year ago Derrick Lampkin responded:
    mars has glaciers at its poles made of combination of both water and carbon dioxide ice...
    9 months ago duncanhargis liked this post.
    9 months ago Josiah Gardiner liked this post.

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