Desert pavement

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A desert pavement is a desert surface that is covered with closely packed, interlocking angular or rounded rock fragments of pebble and cobble size. It is thought that they are formed by the gradual removal of the sand, dust and other fine grained material by the wind and intermittent rain. Frequently the stones are polished by the abrasion of wind-borne dust and may even be shaped by the wind, becoming ventifacts. Desert pavement surfaces are often coated with desert varnish. In Australia the desert pavement is called The Gibber.

[edit] Reference

• Desert Processes Working Group Retrieved 1 Nov 2005