Powder Rocks

This is a powder rock or paint rock. I'm sure some geologist or rock hound could give me the correct term. It's probably some sort of sandstone form. You break them open and beautiful powder or sand is inside. Most of the time it is red or purple. Sometimes, you'll find orange or even blue. The one at bottom right actually had two colors in the same rock. The outer layer was dark purple, the inner layer was tan.

When we were kids we would mix the powder with water and paint our faces like Indians. (Back then we didn't know to say "Native Americans") But woe to us if we got it on our clothes. It didn't wash out very easily, if at all. Now, it is a tradition on my walks with my niece & nephew to pick these up and bring them home. We usually find more after a good rain.

Some folks told us about throwing them into a campfire. Apparently they EXPLODE! So, they called them pop rocks.

Powder, paint or pop...they're free fun in the great outdoors.