What kind of rocks are these?

Anchundan · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:08

This is probably the most common type of rock out here, but I don't know anything about geology. What can you tell me about these rocks?

Edrof · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:38

Maybe Limestone? Got any close-ups?

paddy · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:48

I'm going to guess limestone.

Have a Google for a china geological map and knock yourself out

xb8browney · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:52

Looks like limestone to me. Maybe a disused limestone quarry?

bsoltan · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:52

Limestone is pretty tough and grey is it not? This looks rather sandy.

Hmmm I searched for more pics. Probably is.

danza · 11 Sep 2010 at 08:56

Ignatius?

Anchundan · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:04

Forde said:
Maybe Limestone? Got any close-ups?

actually, no, but I can go back.

What should I look for if it's limestone? And is it much different from granite?

These are some photos of areas nearby (not sure if it's the same kind of rock, but the mountains are within 5 miles, so I guess they would be) :

logix42p · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:15

sandstone? only because you said it was sandy

*Moangroan* · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:21

I think I would go for sandstone also.

Its not granite...thats hard as nails and u would probably get none of that scree or bits falling of at the bottom like ur pic.

Orcish-Horde · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:34

Sand/mud stone, the pix with the water fall the rock is all rounded with granite it would have angled ridges and to the right side you can see where it has built up layers. The first picture I would say limestone, was it taken in a lower area?

Anchundan · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:38

The first two photos were taken at about 100m above sea level, next to a reservoir. The waterfall photo is at about 800 - 1000m.

VeNT · 11 Sep 2010 at 09:40

limestone/sandstone then.

Efour · 11 Sep 2010 at 11:28

Probably limestone

PapaLazaru · 11 Sep 2010 at 11:31

Efour2 said:
where is it again ?

That's what I want to know. that waterfall place looks pretty cool.

Efour · 11 Sep 2010 at 11:38

Qinhuangdao i googled there. i guess he's there. It does refer to limestone reefs where the Great wall meets the sea.

Anchundan · 10 Oct 2010 at 12:02

I eventually went back to that mini-quarry to take more close-up photos and take some samples. There was very heavy rain that day, so the rocks are all soaking wet.

I took two samples back home to test :

I put some white vinegar on the rock on the left :

Nothing happened, there were no bubbles or any kind of fizzing or chemical reaction.

I then got a knife, the rock on the left was very difficult to scratch, hardly making a mark. And was blunting my knife. The rock on the right was easier to scratch.

Also, although you can't really see from these close-up photos, the rock on the left contains what looks like small quartz deposits, and sparkles.

I'm not convinced it's limestone, as I was expecting to see white bubbles with the vinegar. Is there anything else it could be?

SourChipmunk · 10 Oct 2010 at 12:19

The large rock you got a pic of is granite. The samples you took home look to be sandstone. Does it crumble fairly easily?

D.Roberts · 10 Oct 2010 at 12:26

Hard ones

benhomer737 · 10 Oct 2010 at 13:22

looks like sandstone and limestone to me

Amp34 · 10 Oct 2010 at 13:39

Raist said:
The large rock you got a pic of is granite. The samples you took home look to be sandstone. Does it crumble fairly easily?

Sounds about right to me to. The pinky looking rock does look like granite (or at least some kind of intrusive igneous rock, the small samples look very much like course sandstone.

Can't really tell without actual hand samples though, although there does look like there is bedding in a few of the shots.