An example of one of the fractured, very angular boulders with fresh faces exposed seen during Dive 05 of the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition. The fractured fragments, which measured 0.5 to 1.5 meters (1.6 to 4.9 feet) in width, were likely once a single boulder that was more than 2 meters (7 feet) wide, but broke upon impact on the seafloor. The rocks were covered in carnivorous sponges (Cladorhiza bathycrinoides), which on closer inspection appeared to have prey items stuck onto them.
Boulders
Image courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration, Seascape Alaska. Download larger version (jpg, 1.1 MB).

An example of one of the fractured, very angular boulders with fresh rock faces exposed seen during Dive 05 of the Seascape Alaska 3 expedition. The fractured fragments, which measured 0.5 to 1.5 meters (1.6 to 4.9 feet) in width, were likely once a single boulder that was more than 2 meters (7 feet) wide, but broke upon impact on the seafloor. A boulder field with numerous boulders was found at the base of a submarine landslide scarp. The rocks were covered in carnivorous sponges (Cladorhiza bathycrinoides), which on closer inspection appeared to have prey items stuck onto them.