Karlu Karlu / Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve

Karlu Karlu, also known as Karlwekarlwe or Devil's Marbles ( marbles of the devil ), is a sacred Aboriginal site (specifically the Kaytetye, the Warumungu, the Anmatyerre and Alyawarre ) in the Australian desert. It is located about 100 kilometers south of the town Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory in central Australia ( Red Centre ). The area includes several thousand round granite rock.

Etymology

The meaning of the term Karlu Karlu is round object. For the Aborigines but the name is more than a simple description of the facts. After her delivery, is in the rocks around the eggs of the Rainbow Serpent of the Dreamtime. The site therefore plays in the ceremonies and legends of the natives a very big role. For most, in related rituals and stories is secret knowledge that outsiders is not made available. However, it is known that the natives are convinced that beings from the Dreamtime live in the caves under rocks.

Geology and origin

Among the Karlu Karlu is a granite deposits, part of the Davenport Range, which emerges to the surface by weathering processes of the overlying rock. In the spherical devil marbles are round shaped granite rocks, which are formed by the weathering and erosion (see gallery below). This form of weathering that takes place especially in hard rocks, is considered by geologists as Wollsackverwitterung. This form of weathering can be seen not only on Karlu Karlu, but takes place in many places in the world, but are in no place on earth so heaped rundverwitterte and very large rocks. With the emergence of the great " marbles " are processes of the so-called desquamation, which is to be understood as " flaking " of stone surfaces. The present in rock minerals in granite ( feldspar, quartz and mica) have different thermal expansion values ​​. Their volume is changing and different mineral grains dissolve out of the rock mass. Furthermore, wind speeds with sand, which acts like a sandblaster, these processes ( see figure). The weathered grains are transported by either wind or rain. Finally, there is the sand that surrounds the Marble, from the original granite rock. We call the whole process also popular Vergrusen. The reddish color of Marble is formed by an iron oxide, hematite.

Formation 2

Genesis 3

Formation 4

Contemporary

Worldwide echo in the press took place in 1999, the story of the return of one of rocks to Karlu Karlu. The more than eight -ton granite boulder was spent in November 1952 over 480 kilometers to Alice Springs, there to decorate the grave of the deceased on May 5, 1951 Reverend John Flynn. The 1880 -born John Flynn founded in 1939 the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, which is essential for medical care in the outback of Australia still. The rock above the grave was built on the request of his widow, allegedly inspired by the stories of those rocks, which should seal the grave of Jesus Christ. But without the guardian of the sanctuary Karlu Karlu to ask the Kaytetye and Warumungu - Aboriginal - After one could find in the surrounding MacDonnell Ranges no corresponding boulders, one transported over short hand one of the Devil 's Marbles to Alice Springs.

As for the Aborigines, each of the rocks of spiritual significance, date the efforts to return the rocks to Karlu Karlu, until the early 50s back. It still took 45 years of painstaking talks and tough negotiations until the rock was finally returned to its original location. As a gesture of respect for Reverend Flynn was the rock of Karlu Karlu by another sacred stone, this time from the land of the Arrernte, replaced, donated by the Arrernte Aboriginal people from Alice Springs.

A similar place with weathered granite spheres, the spiritual Pebbles is located 12 kilometers north of Tennant Creek. Again, there were protests, as a single stone was removed, and wanted to start as an entrepreneur with the realization of the rock at this place.