Erratics - GCSE Geography Definition

Erratics are large rocks or boulders that have been transported and deposited by glacial ice to locations different from their original source. These rocks are typically different in type and age from the surrounding local rocks, giving them their name as they appear "erratic" or out of place. During the last Ice Age, glaciers moved across landscapes, picking up rocks and debris and later depositing them as the ice melted. Studying erratics helps geographers understand past glacial movements and provides evidence of the earth's geological history, making them an important topic for GCSE Geography students.