Sand ocean

Sand oceans are a geological feature unique to the planet Samrat. They are similar to ergs, but on a tremendous scale; Samrati sand oceans can be hundreds of miles across and several miles deep, and seem to have been formed through an erosive process unique to the planet that is not well understood by geologists. Samrat's soil and atmosphere contains almost no water, which disrupts the formation of sandstone that would normally occur in the high-pressure environment of the lowest levels of Samrat's sand layers. Without water to catalyze the formation of stone, Samrat's sands remain in loose grain form even at extreme depths. Because Samrat's sand oceans are so vast and contain such an extreme volume of granular sand, they take on tidal properties similar to water oceans on other planets. The sand oceans rise and fall daily as Samrat's moon revolves around the planet, and observably consistent currents occur in the sand's movement. These movements are slower and subtler than they would be in a liquid ocean, however they still produce a noticeable effect on the day-to-day topography of the planet's terrain. Dunes in the sand oceans rise and fall and move not merely due to wind movements, but to tidal and current movements, creating a constantly shifting landscape that can be extremely difficult to navigate. The tidal motion of Samrat's sand oceans make it nearly impossible to create permanent or semi-permanent structures in the desert as well. Buildings and unattended vehicles can be consumed by the sand in a matter of days as tidal forces reshape the terrain beneath them.