# Antigravity? Do rocks float? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 24, 2017, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antigravity-do-rocks-float/799675 "2017-10-24T01:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ASGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@ASGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antigravity-do-rocks-float/799675/21 "2017-10-26T19:32:44Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Note that “sinking earth” _is_ the basis of granular convection. As the smaller bits get around the bigger bits and sink into the spaces under the bigger bits they inexorably prop up the bigger bits into the spaces the smaller bits left behind. Okay, I’ll go with granular convection. Perhaps I should be happy there are no freeze/thaw cycles where I live to aggravate granular convection. On the other hand, we do have plenty of very small earthquakes. And I forgot about pumice. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antigravity-do-rocks-float/799675/22 "2017-10-26T19:56:42Z")
> [@ASGuy](#): > > On the other hand, we do have plenty of very small earthquakes. Seems like a good culprit to me. A very small earthquake could cause very slight liquefaction in loose soil, and “plenty” of them would add up. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antigravity-do-rocks-float/799675/23 "2017-10-28T17:45:58Z")
If freeze/thaw is ruled out I’d go with wet/dry cycling. Some soils really expand and shrink based on changes in moisture content and that’s enough to shift rocks. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/antigravity-do-rocks-float/799675.md?page=1)