After 69 years, boulder finally budges

The 11-foot tall John Deere wheel loader equipped with large pallet forks at its front is impressive, but it still left a facilities planning and management team and other onlookers with a 10-ton question Tuesday morning.

Will the loader be able to lift it?

"It" is the six-foot-tall glacial boulder formerly located between Science I and Lagomarcino halls. With straps wrapped near the boulder's base and slung over the forks, the boulder was lifted a few feet from its 69-year resting spot Tuesday and slowly, very slowly, moved 30 feet. It now sits near the front entrance of Science I where it's more visible.

Besides its impressive size, the boulder has "banding" -- different rock that wraps around the boulder like a ribbon and actually runs through it -- to make it even more distinctive. The banding was formed when magma, or liquid rock, flowed through larger pieces of rock.

Moving it is really about making better use of it.

"Over the years, our department has understood the importance of getting information to people in a way they can understand and use," said Kristie Franz, chair of the earth, atmosphere and climate department. "We've been using this boulder in the department for education for decades, but this will bring attention to it and the geology program, and allow us to share information about the boulder with the general public."

Geologists believe the boulder's journey began near a river valley in southern Minnesota, near Redwood Falls – but it could be from further north in Canada. The rock formed sometime in the Pre-Cambrian era, about 541 million to 4.6 billion years ago. Glaciers moved it to what would become Ames during the late Wisconsinan glacial epoch, about 10,500-30,000 years ago. It was discovered in the creek bed of Ioway Creek on the Veenker Golf Course before being moved to campus in 1956.

Previously, the boulder was more hidden from passersby, but when an informational sign -- written by a former Iowa State student -- is installed adjacent to its new location, many more will learn of its impressive journey and history, Franz said.