A three-edged pebble
A dreikanter is a worn pebble that was shaped by wind-blown sand in arid environments. Our specimen formed in the Triassic desert 240 million years ago. They typically have three faces that join to form a triangular pyramid – the name comes from the German word Dreikanter, meaning ‘three edged’. The base is flat, as this lay on the floor of the desert where it was protected from the sand-blasting wind.
Dreikanters are occasionally found at the base of the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds. But please stay away from the base of the cliffs because of the danger of rock falls.
