A ventifact formed in arid, desert environments where windblown sand blasts a rock from a consistent direction. This persistent abrasion grinds down the stone to create one flat, polished facet and a sharp edge. Geologists use these stones to determine prevailing paleo-wind directions in ancient sedimentary environments.
Heard on the job
We found a layer of einkanters in the sandstone core, indicating this entire basin was a desert during deposition.
Do not mix it up with
- Dreikanter: An einkanter has one wind-faceted surface, while a dreikanter has three distinct facets intersecting at a point.