Visit to the UP

[rocknewb101]

What strange formation of these black rocks - there were 5 or 6 rows of these. Did someone take the time to make this, or is this created by waves? And if so, why only the black rocks that line up? Very interesting. 













Spent a couple of days in Ishpeming, MI, which is in the Upper Peninsula, this weekend to attend memorial services for my sweet Aunt. Was a great visit..discovered some added family (my Aunts siblings, I'd never met), and was able to visit Lake Superior and do a little rock hunting - another Great Lake I can cross off my list. Didn't really find much of interest, it was very cold and windy and not the best location to find rocks but was beautiful to see none-the-less. I did bring some rocks home, but after cutting a couple open, I'm not sure they are anything that will tumble well - softer. I'll still try and see what happens - will share results when done. Thanks for looking. 

[chris1956]

The lines of black rocks are interesting.   If someone made them they have too much time on their hands.   Was this in a small cove with rock walls on both sides?   Only thing I can think of is they are different density and having the walls on either side might create wavy patterns with the water rebounding off of the walls as the waves roll in.  But the lines of the "points" are very straight.   ??

[rocknewb101]

Oct 24, 2023 11:54:21 GMT -5 chris1956 said:

The lines of black rocks are interesting.   If someone made them they have too much time on their hands.   Was this in a small cove with rock walls on both sides?   Only thing I can think of is they are different density and having the walls on either side might create wavy patterns with the water rebounding off of the walls as the waves roll in.  But the lines of the "points" are very straight.   ??

I thought the same thing - way too much time on their hands...plus they would have had to dig out because the black rocks were level with everything else. This was a cove, so during a storm I can see where perhaps waves would carry lighter rocks up - that was the best conclusion I could make. Very interesting! 

[jasoninsd]

I'm sorry to hear about your aunt!

I'm glad to hear you were able to get out and about while you were up there though! (Even though the take-home yield wasn't seemingly all that great!)

[Son Of Beach]

Oct 24, 2023 11:54:21 GMT -5 chris1956 said:

The lines of black rocks are interesting.   If someone made them they have too much time on their hands.   Was this in a small cove with rock walls on both sides?   Only thing I can think of is they are different density and having the walls on either side might create wavy patterns with the water rebounding off of the walls as the waves roll in.  But the lines of the "points" are very straight.   ??

Your thinking is correct if I had to guess.  I used to live on the south shore of Lake Michigan and while it's kind of hard to explain without being there, different sized and different makeup rocks ended up in different positions relative to the water. 

I could see this in the sand grains as well.  My best guess is there was a perfect wave or two that had the right "lift", for a better word, that pushed all of that lighter basalt types to the wave crest, aka, were the wave collapsed. 

I have pictures, but I can't find anything at the moment. 

Good eye, I love stuff like this

[rocknewb101]

Oct 24, 2023 23:00:13 GMT -5 jasoninsd said:

I'm sorry to hear about your aunt!

I'm glad to hear you were able to get out and about while you were up there though! (Even though the take-home yield wasn't seemingly all that great!)

Thanks, Jason. It was unexpected, but I'm very grateful to have been able to go and support my uncle.

It's just beautiful up there. The US has some truly magnificent places to see. 

Oct 24, 2023 23:12:51 GMT -5 Son Of Beach said:

Oct 24, 2023 11:54:21 GMT -5 chris1956 said:

The lines of black rocks are interesting.   If someone made them they have too much time on their hands.   Was this in a small cove with rock walls on both sides?   Only thing I can think of is they are different density and having the walls on either side might create wavy patterns with the water rebounding off of the walls as the waves roll in.  But the lines of the "points" are very straight.   ??

Your thinking is correct if I had to guess.  I used to live on the south shore of Lake Michigan and while it's kind of hard to explain without being there, different sized and different makeup rocks ended up in different positions relative to the water. 

I could see this in the sand grains as well.  My best guess is there was a perfect wave or two that had the right "lift", for a better word, that pushed all of that lighter basalt types to the wave crest, aka, were the wave collapsed. 

I have pictures, but I can't find anything at the moment. 

Good eye, I love stuff like this

Ahhh-good to know and very interesting. Nature is truly amazing, isn't it? Thank you!! 

[wargrafix]

That spot looks quite nice and a rockhounder's paradise

[khara]

I’m just now seeing this. I’m sorry to hear of your aunt. My thoughts to you and your family, especially her husband. What a beautiful trip though. I have family, mostly a particular generation, who don’t believe that funerals, services, celebrations of life, are important. And look at what you would’ve missed out on. Meeting new to you family, visiting with other family and friends, giving support to your uncle, and then just a gorgeous little outing in nature. Those black rock stripes are really cool. I also assume it’s from waves. Very cool that differing rocks are carried by the water differently. Usually our eye can’t pick it up but I guess it makes complete sense. 👍

[MsAli]

Oct 24, 2023 23:12:51 GMT -5 Son Of Beach said:

Oct 24, 2023 11:54:21 GMT -5 chris1956 said:

The lines of black rocks are interesting.   If someone made them they have too much time on their hands.   Was this in a small cove with rock walls on both sides?   Only thing I can think of is they are different density and having the walls on either side might create wavy patterns with the water rebounding off of the walls as the waves roll in.  But the lines of the "points" are very straight.   ??

Your thinking is correct if I had to guess.  I used to live on the south shore of Lake Michigan and while it's kind of hard to explain without being there, different sized and different makeup rocks ended up in different positions relative to the water. 

I could see this in the sand grains as well.  My best guess is there was a perfect wave or two that had the right "lift", for a better word, that pushed all of that lighter basalt types to the wave crest, aka, were the wave collapsed. 

I have pictures, but I can't find anything at the moment. 

Good eye, I love stuff like this

You see that all along the shore. The black rocks are probably basalt and they tend to be very light.