Pudding Stone

This rock in Squantum was formed about 6 billion years ago and sculpted by the Wisconsin glacier which moved across the South Shore about 15,000 years ago. The oldest of the rocks at the base of the rocky formation are basalt, gneiss and an early granite; on top is a crumbly rock called tillite. You can really see the mixture of colored pebbles held together in a fine matrix in the second image.

Geologists and others have long been fascinated by Squantum's interesting geology. It's hard to fathom this land covered by giant sheets of mud first and then ice, both more than 100 feet thick.

John Adams wrote about this place on October 22nd, 1762: "The rocks seem to be a vast collection of pebbles as big as hens eggs, thrown into melted cement and cooled in. You may pull them to pieces with your fingers, as fast as you please."

Rocky Profile

New England is known for its rocky coastline and the Squantum section of Quincy coastline illustrates this nicely. Geologists visit Squantum Park regularly to study the glacial rock formations from 250 million years ago.

I see a woman's profile in this particular formation that I believe is called Squaw Rock.

Quarry climber

[click image to enlarge]

I found it fascinating to watch this rock climber puzzle her way up the quarry face near Granite Links Golf Club. It looks like a great sport for mind and body . . . unfortunately, not mine. Quincy was one of the first places in the U.S. where crag climbing was used for mountaineering practice. Today's longest climb is 50 ft. due to the fact that the quarry holes have been filled in with dirt from "The Big Dig" project in nearby Boston.

Go Sox Go!

[Click to enlarge] This rock formation is the only outcropping left of the granite quarry where the High Point development was built. Please note that the granite rocks have been tagged with the name "Yaz" . . . hopefully a good omen for the Boston Red Sox Baseball team!