Opens in a new tab

Letter DGeology glossary

Drumlin

A drumlin is an elongated hill formed by glacial action, composed of till, and shaped like an inverted spoon or half-buried egg, with its long axis parallel to the direction of ice movement. Drumlins are often found in clusters called drumlin fields. Their study provides valuable insights into glacial dynamics, ice flow directions, and the behavior of past ice sheets.

Sandy beach with grassy hill and cloudy sky (drumlin)
Fig. 1 Sandy beach with grassy hill and cloudy sky (drumlin)

Source Benn, D. I., & Evans, D. J. A. (2010). “Glaciers and Glaciation.” Routledge.

join.me

Geology made clear, in your inbox.

Get clear, visual explainers on rocks, minerals, deep time, and the most fascinating parts of Earth science from Geoscopy.