Experimental abrasion of pebbles I. Wet sandblasting

Pebbles of various kinds were subjected to abrasion by a sand-laden current of water. The loss in weight resulting from the action of coarse and fine sand at different velocities was measured. There proved to be no abrasion below a velocity of 70 cm per second. At a bottom velocity of this amount medium to large pebbles are already rolled along. This causes much severer loss of weight. Hence wet sandblasting is not important for particles under cobble size either in streams or on beaches.