The First Finding of Armored Mud Balls in Turkmenistan

Abstract

The so-called “armored mud balls,” which represent a firm mechanical combination of clayey and sandy–clastic rocks, are found in ephemeral stream channels of arid low-mountain areas. The most striking feature of these structures is their spherical, ball-shaped form. They were first reported from California and Arizona as early as more than a century ago (Jones and Kind, 1875). The balls in these areas range in size from 5 to 40 cm across. They are composed of mud, agglutinated debris, gravel, and sand. Due to high strength and round form, they were named as “armored mud balls” (Bell, 1940). American researchers inferred that armored mud balls are encountered in North American deserts more often in streams with a marked gradient, mainly in conditions of the medium- and low-mountain relief. In their opinion, mud balls formed as a result of the activity of short-lived but intense water streams in valleys during heavy rains and snow melting.