Ancient Igneous Boulder Finds New Home at AU

Ashland University has become the new home for a large igneous boulder which originated on the Precambrian Shield in Canada and was formed deep underground over a billion years ago, probably at the base of an ancient volcanic mountain range. Displayed on the east side of the Arthur and Maxine Sheets Rybolt Greenhouse on the AU campus, the boulder and its findings will be recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

“The plaque draws attention to this boulder that was unearthed near Nankin in Ashland County in the summer of 2017 by the Kinder Morgan Co. during construction of the Utopia East Pipeline,” said Dr. Nigel Brush, professor of Geology at AU. “It was found on the property of the John Keener family by a neighbor, Robert Brownson, who recognized its significance and reported it to the State Historic Preservation Office in Columbus.”

Read more about the amazing life of this ancient boulder at ashlandscience.blogspot.com