All mysteries
Mystery #4Tier 2what makes rock strong

Why is one rock tough enough to build with while another crumbles to dust?

Some rocks are strong enough to build castles and cathedrals that stand for a thousand years. Others crumble to powder if you rub them between your fingers. They are all just rock, so why the huge difference? What makes one rock tough and another so weak?

A sandstone cliff where a softer band has been worn back further than the rock above it, leaving a great overhang
Photo: John Allan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons

Your guess

What is your guess? What makes one rock tough and another crumbly?

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