Don’t Take Life for Granite! Rock On!

As a child growing up in the 1950’s, I was fascinated by the variety of rocks I would find in our backyard.  My Dad made a wooden box for me with many compartments of various sizes so I could place my collection on display.  I am not sure where that box is today but I sure treasured it way back then.

What is a Rock?  Geologists define a rock as a natural substance composed of solid crystals of different minerals that have been fused together into a solid lump. The minerals may or may not have been formed all at the same time but what matters is that natural processes glued them all together. 

People who study rocks and minerals are called geologists. They classify rocks according to the way they are formed. Sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic are the three main types of rocks.  Each of these rocks are formed by physical changes such as melting, cooling, eroding, compacting, or deforming.

Sedimentary rocks are the most common rocks exposed on the Earth’s surface. Sedimentary rocks accumulate in layers. Sedimentary rock is fairly soft and may break apart or crumble easily.  You can often see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock.  Sedimentary rock is usually the only type that contains fossils.  Limestone is an example of a sedimentary rock. 

Chemical sedimentary rocks can be found in many places. They can be in the ocean, in the desert or in caves.  Most limestone forms at the bottom of the ocean and will often contain  the remains of marine animals with shells. 

Metamorphic and Igneous rocks are more prevalent in the Earth’s crust. Igneous rocks are formed when molten hot material such as magma found in the Earth’s crust or lava from a volcano cools and solidifies. Metamorphic rock has been put under a lot of pressure and heat. 

Large rocks are called boulders.  Smaller pieces are called cobbles and pebbles.  The world’s largest rock is Mt. Augustus found in the Outback of Western Australia.  When minerals break down they produce small particles.  First sand, silt, or the smallest grains are called clay.  Anything larger than 2 mm are called pebbles. Shale is a rock made mostly of clay.  Siltstone is made up of silt grains while sandstone is made of sand clasts.  

The oldest rock on Earth is found in the bedrock along the northeast coast of Hudson Bay in Canada. The softest rock on earth is Talc.

We use rocks in our everyday lives. Limestone is used in making cement.  Sandstone is also a building material.  Pumice, an igneous rock, is used as a bath scrub and Granite, another igneous rock, is used as a Kerb Stone. In order to stay healthy and strengthen the body, we need to consume minerals every day. 

Rocks are different in colour too.  The minerals that make up the rock get their colour from the different chemical elements found in the mineral.  A red-coloured rock will have a lot of iron in its composition.  Light-coloured rocks are mostly made of light minerals like quartz, calcite, or plagioclase.

These are the sayings on the bookmark called Advice from a Rock.

• Try your hardest

• Stay grounded

• Start each day with a clean slate

• Keep still

• Be well-rounded

• Live in balance

• Never take life for granite!

Advice from a Rock

• Try your hardest - Do your best and give 110% effort all the time.

• Stay grounded - Build a firm foundation.

• Start each day with a clean slate - Each day is a new beginning.

• Keep still - Stay in place just where you are.  You have a unique role to play wherever God has placed you.  Don’t keep looking for the grass on the other side. 

• Be well-rounded - Be versatile. Try new experiences in a wide range of activities and ideas. 

• Live in balance - Know what is important to you in your life.  Give each of these areas the attention they need.  

• Never take life for granite! - For granite or for granted - Hehe - I like this pun!

Have a great day everyone.  Rock on!

# living life abundantly   # published author   # travelling tuesdays