• Question: Why do Rocks move in Death Valley? http://www.hoax-slayer.com/moving-rocks-death-valley.shtml

    Asked by mancbluemoon to Angus, Christian, Hannah, Laura, Simon on 20 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Angus Ferraro

      Angus Ferraro answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      These moving rocks are so weird! As that web page you linked to says, it’s probably something to do with the wind. Out in the flat desert winds can get really strong because there’s nothing like hills to get in the way. The soil/sand must have quite a bit of clay in it, and the movement probably happens when the clay gets damp (it does rain sometimes in deserts), allowing the rocks to slide along with the wind.

    • Photo: Hannah Bentham

      Hannah Bentham answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I watched the video. I think there would have to be surface water or ice to generate these tracks. Wind could push the rock, but the ground would have to be significantly muddy to reduce the friction. Otherwise the rock would roll rather than slide.

      They are really cool! I would like to set up a camera to study them constantly over many years 🙂

    • Photo: Simon Holyoake

      Simon Holyoake answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I don’t think anyone knows for sure! they certainly are fascinating!

      I agree with Hannah, I would love to set up time lapse camera to watch them move over time and try to figure out how it happens 🙂

    • Photo: Laura Roberts Artal

      Laura Roberts Artal answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I’d not heard of these before, so thanks for the video, these rocks are very cool!

      I don’t think I can add much to what the other scientist have said already, but I agree with them, studying them over time with a time laps camera would be fascinating.

    • Photo: Christian Maerz

      Christian Maerz answered on 20 Jun 2013:

      I actually have no idea, but wind and a slight gradient of the ground might do the trick…

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