I have a few passions, one of which are stones and rocks. Wherever I go my eyes scan the earth and  environment, looking for exciting stones, rocks, and rock formations.  Therefore, over the years  I have collected some precious specimens. We also have a rockery and water feature at home made of stone from the farm.

Imagine picking up a glistening stone, quartzite or perfectly rounded pebble knowing it may have moved there thousands of kilometers or eroded by wind or water over many many years, realizing you may be the first stumbling over that stone or seeing that rock for the first time ever. It is enough to give anyone goose-flesh. Awesome thoughts ! In this sense every stone you pick up is precious.

Vlakfontein farm, the home of Treeferns Trout Lodge,  is endowed with an abundance of colourful eroded rocks, and rock formations making for interesting views and photography.

Therefore some information on this subject is of interest to our visitors.

There are three main types of rock, viz. sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic :

Sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are created when pieces of earth or sediment like mud, sand, gravel, and minerals are broken down by wind and water  and washed away to settle  and compact to rock on the bottom of a body of water such as the ocean, lake or river over millions of years. Examples of sedimentary rock are sandstone, limestone, dolomite, and coal. The presence of sandstone outcropping on the farm suggests the primeval excistence of a  river or lake which together with solidified sand bed or ripple rock strongly supports this theory. (See “Ripple Rock” under “Geology” on this Web.)

Igneous rock. Igneous rocks are formed mainly underground when melted rock or lava deep in the earth pushes through the crust of the earth like in a volcanic eruption, and then cooles and solidifies above the ground. Granite, dolerite, and quartz are igneous rock. Specimens are also found on the farm.

Metamorphic rock. These are sedimentary or igneous rocks that have undergone change or metamorphisis caused mainly by huge pressure, and/or heat within the earth’s crust. Examples are quartzite, marble, slate.  This picture of crystal like rock was also taken on the farm.

♣♣♣