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Glite Dictionary
boulder clay

boulder clay

7.9
A heavy mix of clay, sand, and large stones left by glaciers
  • noun
  • /ˈboʊldər kleɪ/
  • UK
translation icon : arcilla de morrena
  • Geologists analyzed the boulder clay to better understand the history of the last ice age.

Examples

  • The boulder clay contains large stones left behind by retreating glaciers.

  • The fields in this region are covered by thick layers of boulder clay.

  • The boulder clay was deposited by ancient glaciers.

  • Many areas in Scotland are covered by boulder clay.

  • Geologists analyzed the boulder clay to better understand the history of the last ice age.

  • The boulder clay contains large stones left behind by retreating glaciers.

  • The fields in this region are covered by thick layers of boulder clay.

Synonyms

till
vsboulder clay
  • Specialized
4 9.9

Loose mix of clay, sand, gravel, and stones left by a glacier

has identical meaning but is an alternate term for the same deposit

Surface Forms

boulder clay singular
boulder clays plural

Morphology

boulder + clay

The meaning is directly compositional: 'boulder' + 'clay' denotes clay that contains or is mixed with large rocks. Although the term is somewhat technical in geology, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer that it refers to a clay deposit with boulders, so the construction is transparent.

Etymology

Boulder clay comes from the clear picture of big stones mixed into thick, sticky earth: boulder means a very large rock and clay means heavy, sticky soil left behind when moving ice melted. So the name shows it is 'a layer of mixed clay, sand, gravel, and big stones'.