<p>They're landslide deposits; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mam_Tor" rel="noreferrer">Mam Tor</a> gets its name, which translates as "mother hill", from the regular landslides that come off the higher slopes and form hillocks further down into the valley.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T15:29:00.830Z
@Universal_learner Then write your own answer using that as your source, I hope it's location specific.
Ash
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T15:39:59.247Z
@Universal_learner Yeah unfortunately that research site is a place called Glossop, near as I can figure it's over 50 miles away from Mam Tor. Sorry first comment had bad spelling.
Ash
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T16:37:46.350Z
@Universal_learner To me they look more like typical Granite Tors in their geomorphology, especially the mound on the right of shot.
Ash
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T17:56:36.347Z
The geology around Mam Tor and Castleton is lower Millstone Grit (mostly layered shales here) over limestone. The famous Castleton caves are in the limestone. Mam Tor is the Millstone Grit. The shales make a very famous landslide - the road has been abandoned. The lower area where the old road is, is very hummocky from the landslide. However the Peak District is also high enough for drumlins. I would want to know more about the above photo orientation before deciding between the two.  (also there are some hummock limestone reefs nr Castleton, but the photo orientation is wrong for those)
winwaed
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T01:08:24.937Z
you could improve this answer a lot if you explain how rotational landslides cause back-rotation, slump, and high spots. even a simple diagram would help. http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/content/qjegh/33/2/105/F4.large.jpg
John
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T10:16:55.027Z
Thank you for the answer Ash.
Also, John, thank you for the information on how they end up as mounds instead of evenly spread patches of landslide.
user124425
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-27T16:49:47.913Z
@John Thanks John I went looking for something like that but my Google-fu wasn't up to it at the time.
Ash
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-26T15:20:34.707Z
2018-06-26T15:20:34.707Z
Ash
<p>Whilst riding on Mam Tor in Castleton, England I came across this scene (not my photo) and I would like to know what causes the formations which I have ringed in red. They <em>look</em> like piles of earth have been deposited a long time ago, but clearly that can't be the case, so what causes them?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/OEbU5.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/OEbU5.jpg" alt="Marked Mounds"></a>
<a href="http://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/out-about/12-photos-that-capture-the-true-beauty-of-mam-tor-1-4566874" rel="noreferrer">Another image of these mounds</a></p>

<geomorphology>
What causes these mound-like ground formations?
user124425
# What causes these mound-like ground formations?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-06-26)

Whilst riding on Mam Tor in Castleton, England I came across this scene (not my photo) and I would like to know what causes the formations which I have ringed in red. They *look* like piles of earth have been deposited a long time ago, but clearly that can't be the case, so what causes them?

[![Marked Mounds](https://i.sstatic.net/OEbU5.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/OEbU5.jpg)
[Another image of these mounds](http://www.derbyshirelife.co.uk/out-about/12-photos-that-capture-the-true-beauty-of-mam-tor-1-4566874)

**Tags:** geomorphology


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-06-26. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

They're landslide deposits; [Mam Tor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mam_Tor) gets its name, which translates as "mother hill", from the regular landslides that come off the higher slopes and form hillocks further down into the valley.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: @Universal_learner Then write your own answer using that as your source, I hope it's location specific.  
> **username_1**: @Universal_learner Yeah unfortunately that research site is a place called Glossop, near as I can figure it's over 50 miles away from Mam Tor. Sorry first comment had bad spelling.  
> **username_1**: @Universal_learner To me they look more like typical Granite Tors in their geomorphology, especially the mound on the right of shot.  
> **username_2**: The geology around Mam Tor and Castleton is lower Millstone Grit (mostly layered shales here) over limestone. The famous Castleton caves are in the limestone. Mam Tor is the Millstone Grit. The shales make a very famous landslide - the road has been abandoned. The lower area where the old road is, is very hummocky from the landslide. However the Peak District is also high enough for drumlins. I would want to know more about the above photo orientation before deciding between the two.  (also there are some hummock limestone reefs nr Castleton, but the photo orientation is wrong for those)  
> **username_3**: you could improve this answer a lot if you explain how rotational landslides cause back-rotation, slump, and high spots. even a simple diagram would help. http://qjegh.lyellcollection.org/content/qjegh/33/2/105/F4.large.jpg  
> **username_0**: Thank you for the answer Ash. Also, username_3, thank you for the information on how they end up as mounds instead of evenly spread patches of landslide.  
> **username_1**: @username_3 Thanks username_3 I went looking for something like that but my Google-fu wasn't up to it at the time.  

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