Rocks that have become smooth and rounded can typically be found in riverbeds, beaches, and coastal areas where the continuous action of water and wave movement wears away sharp edges. These processes, known as erosion and abrasion, gradually shape the rocks over time. Additionally, smooth and rounded rocks can also be found in glacial deposits, where they have been polished by the movement of ice.
Erosion and weathering will cause rocks to become rounded.
form the sand & water moving it
All rocks can become igneous rocks. With weathering and erosion, an igneous rock can become a sediment. Then with compaction and cementation, it can become a sedimentary rock. With heat and pressure, it will turn into a metamorphic rock. Or it can melt and turn into an igneous rock. There are many more ways rocks can change types... that is the rock cycle.
sedimentary rocks
heat and pressure
Erosion and weathering will cause rocks to become rounded.
They fragment and become jagged, they become rounded by means of water erosion, which is why rounded rocks are found by rivers, creeks, etc.
As the cobbles and pebbles are carried downstream by the stream, they constantly collide with each other and with the streambed, causing abrasion. This abrasion gradually wears away the rough edges and corners of the rocks, resulting in their smooth and rounded appearance. The longer the rocks are transported by the stream, the more worn down they become.
Rocks tend to become rounded due to the processes of erosion and weathering. As rocks are exposed to elements like water, wind, and ice, they gradually break down and wear away, causing their edges and corners to smoothen over time. This results in a more rounded shape for the rock.
Gastroliths were the smooth, rounded rocks that dinosaurs ingested to help them digest and grind their food. These rocks were swallowed and moved around in the stomach to break down tough plant material.
Erosion causes them to become smooth from wear.
Rocks become smooth and rounded through a process called abrasion. This occurs when the rocks are continuously rubbed against each other or against other surfaces, wearing down their rough edges and surfaces over time. Factors such as water flow, wind, ice, and sand can contribute to this process.
form the sand & water moving it
Rocks become smooth through the process of weathering, which includes abrasion from wind, water, or ice over time. Rocks that are not smooth may have experienced less weathering or may be composed of harder materials that resist erosion. The smoothness of a rock can also depend on its location, as rocks in a riverbed or along a coastline are more likely to become smooth.
Rounded smooth rocks typically originate from processes like erosion and river transport, where water gradually shapes them over time, resulting in their smooth appearance. In contrast, angular uneven rocks are often formed through geological processes such as volcanic activity or fracturing, which leave them with sharp edges and irregular shapes. The history of rounded rocks is often linked to their journey through water, while angular rocks often reflect their origins in solid geological formations. Both types of rocks tell unique stories about their formation and the environmental conditions they experienced.
Sediment carried by the river acts as an abrasive against the rocks on the bottom of the river. Rocks are also continually bounced into each other, which also serves to gradually knock off rough edges, making them smoother and rounder.
== == Weathering and erosion. Weathering causes rock to break into smaller particles. When these particles are transported by wind, water, or ice, the jagged edges from fracture are gradually worn down from abrasion with other particles, making the outer surface appear relatively smooth. Sometimes the mere abrasive effects of windblown particles on a rock will smooth the exposed surface, leaving the remainder of the rock jagged. Rounded and smoothed stones, if rounded and smoothed on all sides, are usually the product of tumbling. Tumbling is usually accomplished by transportation of the stone by water and contact with other rocks. == ==