Kolks, a kind of underwater tornado that occurs in deep flows of fast-moving water, tore huge potholes in the scablands and probably also flung debris right out of the floodwaters.

It took only 2 days for this water to change many parts of the Northwest landscapes drastically. There were, however, possible multiple large floods ranging to even 100 different events. Scientists have studied this event to help them explain some characteristics of Mars.

Feldspar is an important ingredient in the manufacture of glass. Feldspar is the most common rock-forming mineral. Feldspar is a name for a group of minerals with a general chemical formula of x Al(Al,Si)₃O₈, where x can be one or more elements. Feldspar minerals are usually white or very light in color and have a hardness of 6 on the Mohs’ Scale of Hardness. Another physical property of the feldspar group is that the mineral has good cleavage in two directions. Feldspar minerals break down to form kaolinite, a clay mineral.