Glacial polish

The detergent immersion refers to the abrasive action of a glacier that moved away over a rock body. Synonymous with the term is used Gletscherschliff, the latter phrase is also the result of the detergent immersion.

Formation

By the sliding of the moving of the ice substrate is eroded, while the ice cream is much softer than the rock. The grinding and smoothing action unfolds in the upcoming by entrained debris material ( moraine ). The typical glacier scrapes ( Kritzung ) are generated. By mutual grinding up of stones of ground moraine and of the rock glacier flour, which is transported as suspended load with the meltwater produced. The glacial lakes receive their characteristic greenish- white color by the so-called glacier milk. The Deter Sion acts predominantly on the ice movement facing windward side elevations of the ground.

Exposed glacial striations are very commonly found in young glaciated areas worldwide. Beautiful examples can be east of the village of Fischbach in Flintsbach, observed in Pflerschtal in South Tyrol and St. Margaret in Rosental.