Old Rock Day, despite some misconception, is not a day of celebrating classic Rock ‘n’ Roll tunes of days gone by but is, in fact, the day that geologists and amateur rock enthusiasts take it upon themselves to show their appreciation of all things fossilized and stony.
A rock is a solid mass that is made up of minerals or substances that are mineral-like. They form the Earth’s most outer layer. Rocks have also been (and continue to be) used for a number of different purposes. This includes everything from weapons to musical instruments and tools; their use is very varied. Of course, if you were to go outside now, you would probably see some rocks on the ground, right? They are everything, and something so significant deserves to be recognized and appreciated, which is what Old Rock Day is all about.
Natural processes help to ensure that rocks are continually kept on Earth, and by this, we mean processes like erosion and volcanic eruptions. Despite this, old rocks are essential when it comes to understanding the history of our planet and learning more about the Earth in general. Old rocks hold the answers to a lot of mysteries regarding the formation of Earth. They are able to tell scientists the story of what happened to cause the rocks to form, as well as revealing the effects these natural events have had on other forms of life within that area. It is crazy to think that something so small could hold such incredible information!
You can also find that fossils are held within old rocks at times. These are the preserved remains of plants, animals, and other organisms. These fossils can enable scientists to discover the sort of fauna and flora that existed in the past. They can then delve deeper, finding out what caused them to either go extinct or evolved. This is another way that rocks help us to understand the world that we live in.
In order to determine how old a rock is, geologists will use a technique that is known as radioactive dating or radiometric dating. This is a process that involves taking a look at radioactive elements and how they have decayed within the rocks. This enables scientists to find the oldest rock of terrestrial origin. Scientists believe that this rock could be 4.4 billion years old. It was found in Australia’s Jack Hills and it is a zircon rock.
The exact origins of this day are unclear and unconfirmed but there has been a suggestion that this day was first created by the cartoon family known as The Flintstones. Nobody from The Flintstones however was available for comment.
This is also the day when young children are often encouraged to go out and discover their first “pet rock.” It is a day that they can use to bond with their “pet” and cement the very beginning of their lengthy future relationship. Unlike with other pets, “pet rocks” never ever grow old or die.
Other festivities on this day include painting and decorating the “faces” of rocks and of gathering together attractive pebbles and stones to make inexpensive and original pieces of jewellery.
It is also the day that the pastime of building a “rock garden” is actively encouraged. Some towns and villages around the world hold competitions on this day to find the best decorated “rock garden”.
