The slow, glacier-like downslope creep of a tongue-shaped mass of rock debris mixed with and lubricated by interstitial ice, found in cold mountain environments where debris supply is high relative to snowfall. Rock glaciers move much like true ice glaciers but are mantled in rock rather than exposed ice.
Facts
Partially Attested
Process TypeThe source calls rock glaciers glaciers shielded by rock debris; they are periglacial creeping landforms, so geomorphological is chosen over glacial as the closer class. TimescaleSlow creep, surface velocities generally less than 2 m per year 1 The source gives a movement rate for existing rock glaciers, not a formation duration, so the value describes the slow pace of movement only. Connections
Sources
1. Rock glacier, Wikipedia
Lead paragraph, first sentence
Rock glaciers are glaciers shielded from melting by a layer of non-icy rocks, allowing them to stay frozen in locations where they would otherwise melt.
Movement section
Surface velocities are generally less than 2m/a, although this depends where measurements have been taken on the length of the rock glacier.
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