Sandstone shapes 'forged by gravity'

[dipsydoodle]

Geologists have discovered the secret that gives dramatic natural sandstone monuments their shape: gravity.

By studying cubes of sand in the lab, they showed that areas squeezed by vertical stress are protected from erosion, while others wash away.

The process had proved difficult to study, because natural slabs of sandstone erode over millions of years.

The key to the experiments, published in Nature Geoscience, was an unusual "locked sand" dug from a Czech quarry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-28365410

[Xipe Totec]

1. Very interesting and unexpected. nt

[Igel]

4. And yet once you look at their shapes

and think about where stress is concentrated and optimal shapes for supports ...

[H2O Man]

2. Recommended.

Fascinating. Thank you for this.

[Orrex]

3. I hope that they Czech their fndings.

[burrowowl]

5. K&R

[bluedigger]

6. It's a beautiful world out there.

One of my favorite formations in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.