Shape and erosion of pebbles

The shapes of flat pebbles may be characterized in terms of the statistical distribution of curvatures measured along their contours. We illustrate this method for clay pebbles eroded in a controlled laboratory apparatus, and also for naturally occurring rip-up clasts formed and eroded in the Mont S...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics, 2007-02, Vol.75 (2 Pt 1), p.021301-021301, Article 021301
Main Authors: Durian, D J, Bideaud, H, Duringer, P, Schröder, A P, Marques, C M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Condensed Matter
Earth Sciences
Physics
Sciences of the Universe
Soft Condensed Matter
Stratigraphy
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Summary:The shapes of flat pebbles may be characterized in terms of the statistical distribution of curvatures measured along their contours. We illustrate this method for clay pebbles eroded in a controlled laboratory apparatus, and also for naturally occurring rip-up clasts formed and eroded in the Mont St.-Michel bay. We find that the curvature distribution allows finer discrimination than traditional measures of aspect ratios. Furthermore, it connects to the microscopic action of erosion processes that are typically faster at protruding regions of high curvature. We discuss in detail how the curvature may be reliably deduced from digital photographs.
ISSN:1539-3755
1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.75.021301