The following are my Posts for “W” and “X” in the weekly alphabetical series of a Facebook Group I belong to, “New Zealand Lapidary, Rocks, Minerals, Fossils”. The first Posts in this Series can be found here. The Series Index is here.
“W” is for “Ward Beach Zoophycos” – This stone contains a trace fossil, called zoophycos, and similar stones can be found especially along the Kaikoura coast. As noted in “A Photographic Guide to Fossils of New Zealand”, Ward Beach is famous for this type of trace fossil stone, of which there many variations.
Ward Beach is about six kilometres off the main road east from the small village of Ward in the Flaxbourne District, 82 kilometres north of Kaikoura and 45 kilometres south of Blenheim. The Flaxbourne River reaches the coast at Ward Beach, which is set among spectacular scenery – high hills with steep slopes and a coastline with interesting rock formations. The Ward Beach boulders (concretions) are not far from the car park (maybe 10 minutes’ walk north). The beach was uplifted by the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake, unveiling the boulders.
The best part of the beach for stones is immediately in front of the car park, though it can be steep as it gets closer to the water and the incoming waves can be dangerous.
“X” is for “X-Figures When Veins Cross in a Stone” – This tumble-polished Birdlings Flat quartzite contains many veins, some very fine, others less so. When veins cross, “X”s are discernable. I have highlighted two of the many in this stone.
Must check it out next time we’re there. Might not be for a while now as we were there earlier in the year after many years. So it’s likely to be a few more years again before we make it up there. I had no idea that beach had interesting stones.