Honeycomb Weathering
May 04, 2006
Provided by: Kelsay Davis
Summary author: Kelsay Davis
Honeycomb weathering often occurs in sandstones along the coast of Puget Sound, Washington, and there are particularly nice examples at Clayton Beach, near Bellingham, as shown in the above photo taken February 10, 2006. The holes in this rock are on the order of a foot or so (30 cm) in diameter. This weathering occurs from the evaporation of water in brine-soaked rocks at high tide level. Sodium left within the sandstone pores gradually accumulates, displacing clasts. The honeycomb weathering at Clayton Beach is visible in sandstones of the Chuckanut Formation, a package of Eocene terrestrial sedimentary rocks.
Related Links:
- Puget Sound and Coastal Geology
- The Chuckanut Formation
- Geology of Puget Lowland Bluffs and Ravines
- The Geomorphology of Puget Sound Beaches
[8/19]