Sandstone: What It Is and What It Tells Us

These holey sandstone rocks on the Oregon coast are basically a fossil record of ancient burrowing. The holes were often drilled by piddock clams (family Pholadidae) and other boring creatures that grind and rasp into softer rock to make a safe home. Over time, the sand turned to stone, and the burrows stayed behind as trace fossils (evidence of behavior, not the animal’s body). If you find one, look for smooth rounded chambers, clustered holes, and sometimes faint scrape marks inside. #nature #

Fossil Bluff - Waratah-Wynyard Council