Commune: Kowiesy (pow. skierniewicki, woj. łódzkie)
Framework element or context represented:
Pleistocene ice-sheet sediments.
Primary geological/geomorphological interest:
Large erratic boulder.
Comparative assessment justification:
Exceptional big erratic boulder representing local (not Scandinavian) rock.
Protection status and accessibility:
The boulder is protected since 1932 as an inanimate nature monument of high scientific values and is easily accessible to sightseeing.
Character of site: Erratic boulder.
Area: 0.01 ha
Altitude: 202 m a.s.l.
Lithology: silstones, claystones
Discipline: Geomorphology, Stratigraphy of Quaternary
Process Age: Quaternary, *all periods
Bedrock Age: *all periods
Description of primary interest:
The boulder is situated within the older glacial area of the Middle Polish (Saale) Glaciation and represents a siltstone rock probably of the Lower Miocene age. The size of the boulder is 36.0 metres in perimeter and 3.0 metres in height. The boulder was transported by the Middle Polish (Saale) Scandinavian ice-sheet. It was exposed during the road-building and conserved (1932). Surface of the block have visible traces of the former exploitation and some fragments are glacially polished.
Literature:
ALEXANDROWICZ Z., DRZAŁ M., KOZŁOWSKI S. 1975–Katalog rezerwatów i pomników przyrody nieożywionej w Polsce (in Polish only). Studia Naturae,. ser. B, 26: 1-298. BER A. 1999–Preliminary list of the Quaternary geosites in Northern and Central Poland, their age and geological position. Pol. Geol. Inst., Spec. Papers, 2: 77-85. BER A. 2001–Ważne czwartorzędowe stanowiska geologiczne Polski północnej i środkowej (Polish only). In: W trosce o Ziemię. Księga ku czci Prof. S. Kozłowskiego: 224-239. KUL Lublin. CZERNICKA-CHODKOWSKA 1977–Zabytkowe głazy narzutowe na obszarze Polski (Polish only). Cz. II: 81. GŁOWIŃSKA A. 1932–Materials for the inventory of boulders in Poland (English sum.). Ochrona Przyrody 12: 81-88. MAŁKOWSKI S. 1926–Wielki głaz narzutowy piaskowca w Zawadach pod Chszczonowem (Polish only). Posiedzenia Nauk. PIG 14: 3. WUTTKE K. 1951–Wiadomości o największym głazie na Mazowszu (Polish only). Zabytki Przyr. Nieożyw. 1 (4): 45-46.