The tessellated pavements in Bouddi National Park, New South Wales, Australia, have formed in the sandstone rocks of this area over millions of years caused by the process of weathering and erosion.
The processes of weathering and erosion, including expansion and contraction, have resulted in the rock surface to be slowly dissected take on its tessellated pavement appearance.
At the centre of the sandstone blocks in the pavement is displayed a rusty-red Liesegang Ring. The precise process for the formation of these Liesegang Rings is not entirely understood but here at Bouddi they are formed by the oxidisation of iron carbonate in the sandstone for form iron oxidise. The iron oxidise is more resistant to the weathering processes than the surrounding rock and often stand proud of the blocks in which they are formed.
The sandstone, siltstone and claystone in this area are fine grained sediments which were laid down either below a shallow inland lake or a coastal lagoon and then buried deep in the earth’s crust and have been subsequently brought back to the surface by geological activity.
Rock Formations
Links: www.adderley.net.au, commons.wikimedia.org, en.wikipedia.org
By: Mike_bjm
