Believe it or not there is a subtle, yet important difference between the terms ‘Rock’ and ‘Stone’. Though using them interchangeably is not some big faux pas, it is interesting to note they are definitionally different. ROCK - a rock is usual replete with its natural jagged edges and mass. Rocks vary in size dramatically - from the palm of your hand to mountain sized boulders. A single continuous mass of minerals and mineraloids make up rocks. A rock is typically what we find on a hiking trail. STONE - a stone is defined differently mostly by its shape, smoothness, and size. A stone is typically weathered by nature or human intervention till the surface has lost all protruding features. Stones can be large, but typically aren’t recognized as such when they are larger than human scale. A stone is typically what we find on the shore of a lake. Stones are used in the context of construction or decoration. From geology.in : “The key thing to note is that geologists use "rock" as a broader term to describe large masses of material that make up the Earth's crust, including mountains, plateaus, and cliffs.” Pretty cool right?

Not sure what this is- I think it’s some kind of lithic sandstone? Seems layered like sandstone but much harder like granite. It has to be old because it is very dense. But its banding makes me think it was a sand deposit. Lots of quartz flecks all over it, but that’s 70% of sandstone! Anybody have any ideas. I feel like there’s probably an obvious answer out there…

As an adult this was the first piece I actually dug up and found, instead of just a happenstance walk by. My dad lives in Kansas in a 1920 farm house. Out by the old water pump was the top of a crystal just poking through the dirt. Curious, I dug until I pulled out a huge slab. It split naturally and it was perfect for my sister and I to share.

I live in New York City. One of my favorite features about the city is Central Park- a cornucopia of fantastic schist boulders. There are so many awesome boulders in the park that there are legitimate places to free solo climb (its called Rat Rock! see linked video). I love how these boulders naturally outcrop and terraform the landscape and feel of the park. Anyone whose walked about on a beautiful day has likely been charmed by the paths naturally winding around fantastic rocks that pop up out of nowhere. Often, they are perfectly sloped and accessible enough to invite tourists to casually ascend for a better view. It's easy to find yourself sitting atop a massive boulder and wonder "how am I in the middle of a gigantic city right now??" The bedrock in the New York City region is mostly schist, a semi-hard metamorphic rock with loads of tiny crystals, mica flecks, and various bands of marble, quartz, and other fun stuff. The unique undulating slopes of Central Parks topology are all directly related to how this layer of schist has been adapting tectonically for billions of years. If you observe the exposed layers of rock, its immediately apparent its been through some heavy, dramatic movement. Look at the pictures and you'll see what I mean! I've included some various pics of Central Park from online. They aren't the best, but I work close by and will snap some real photos of my favorite spots!

I'm curious where you guys are all from- rep your hometown below 👇