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Name: Marnie
Status: Educator
Grade: K-12
Location: NJ
Country: United States
Date: May 2007
Question:
How long does it take a boulder to become sand? My second grader asked this question when we were discussing why sand looks like small rocks.


Replies:
The answer is - - it depends. It depends on what the boulder was made of and what the climate is like.

Some rocks, like Granite break down quite quickly in wet climates, especially if there is freezing and thawing every so often. Metamorphic rocks like slate and gneiss last longer.

Bob Avakian
Oklahoma State University


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