Glacial Striations on Snake Butte, Montana
May 26, 2013
Photographer: Rod Benson
Summary Author: Rod Benson
The gouge on this rock is one of many glacial striations found on top of Snake Butte on the Fort Belknap Reservation in north-central Montana. These striations were caused by the continental glacier that grew from Canada into what is now Montana during the most recent ice age. The orientation of the striations indicates the glacier was flowing toward the southeast as it moved up and over Snake Butte. This has been confirmed by studying the Snake Butte Boulder Train, which consists of large pieces of Snake Butte strewn along a line to the southeast of Snake Butte. As the Laurentide Ice Sheet expanded into this area, the Bear Paw Mountains forced it to flow toward the southeast. Erratics can also be found on top of the butte. Photo taken on January 14, 2013.
Photo Details: Camera: KONICA DiMAGE Z6; Focal Length: 5.859375mm (35mm equivalent: 35mm); Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0063 s (1/160); ISO equiv: 50; Software: Adobe Photoshop 7.0.
[9/20]