Why do people find sand so fascinating? One of the reasons is because of all of the unusual structures it forms. Whether it is found in a desert, beach, or mountain stream, sand produces some unusual patterns. We're going to compose pages with mosaics of the features you send. Please include a little story to explain the feature. As a minimum give the name of the feature, and where you found it.

 

Rills - Neal describes rills as "small erosional channels, [that] are the most visible sign of groundwater escape . . .  As the water moves it carries grains with it and forms small channels." They are fascinating! I have shown these rill patterns to my students and didn't tell them what they were. Many interpreted them as tributaries on a river, or channels on Mars! 

Worm Burrow - There is a telltale bulging of the sand in a curved shape. Digging into the shape may reveal the creator!

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Resources

Neal, William. Atlantic Coast Beaches. 1. Missoula: Mountain Press, 2007. Print.