Early attempts at replicating what was observed in nature had varying results.
A favorite science experiment with children is replicating a tornado.
The resulting seedlings are then planted in a random, non-linear pattern inside fenced exclosures, replicating the natural distribution of the trees.
While artificial weathering is reproducible; the acute aggressive stresses mitigate against reliably replicating natural conditions.
Fundamentally, what is going on is that replicating molecules ensure their survival by means of phenotypic effects on the world.
