Chirat

Chirat is the local name given to rock glacier rock which recovers the slopes in the forms of falls which are sometimes also called stone drains . According to the Littré , the orthography would be will chiras .

Localization

The chirats are rather rare and characteristic of the slopes North to the top of 900m of the Solid mass of the Pilat and the solid masses of the edge is Massif Central. Similar formations exist in the the Appalachian Mountains.

Geological origin

Formed at the time of the last glaciations of the Quaternary , between -100 000 and -10.000 years, the chirats are due to the bursting of the rock under the effect of the cold. The blocks were then transferred onto the slope by the glaciers. Their angular form and the important size of the blocks is with mica poverty of the granite forming the rocks.

Vegetation

Stripped large vegetation, the zones of chirat shelter generally only some foams and lichens with sometimes an alpine flora.

External bonds/More

Massif Central: chirats, rather complete file of Futura-sciences.
chirats, a geological originality, article on the site of the Natural park of the Pilat.

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