<p>In itself, it is very complex to claim what a stone is. However, the industry has to define it. For example, if a track ballast has to be covered with &quot;stones&quot;, the stone factory has to know what they have to deliver. Therefore there is the following classification:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DmI7j.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DmI7j.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_size" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_size</a></p>
<p>However, if the geology is to determine how big, for example, rocks or mountains become, it must be taken into account that as the size increases, the surface area exposed to erosion increases, which is one of the limiting factors for rocks or mountains not being able to grow indefinitely high.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-22T09:09:09.160Z
2023-03-22T09:09:09.160Z
Weiss
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Uluru</a>, in central Australia, is also referred to as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inselberg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">inselberg</a> or a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolith" rel="nofollow noreferrer">monolith</a>. It was once known as Ayers Rock before its indigenous name was adopted.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://uluru-australia.com/about-uluru/uluru-facts/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">dimensions of Uluru</a> are:</p>
<ul>
<li>Length - 3.6 km</li>
<li>Width  - 1.9 km</li>
<li>Height above ground - 348 m</li>
<li>Extent into the ground - approximately 2.5 km</li>
<li>Perimeter around its contact with the ground - 9.4 km</li>
</ul>
<p>Less well known is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Augustus_(Western_Australia)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mount Augustus</a>, in Western Australia, which is another inselberg. Its central ridge is 8 km long and it is approximately 860 m above ground. It covers an area of 4795 ha. It is more than twice the size of Uluru.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-22T13:56:32.803Z
2023-03-22T13:56:32.803Z
Fred
<p>There are many types of rocks: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Some rocks are simply huge. Some of them are tiny. Is there a theoretical upper limit on the size of a rock, and what is it based on?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:34:23.603Z
What do you call a rock? Is a mountain a rock? Is a planet a rock?
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:36:23.310Z
@AtmosphericPrisonEscape Igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.
Arunabh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:37:38.787Z
I repeat my question.
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:39:11.243Z
@AtmosphericPrisonEscape A rock is a mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water.
Arunabh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:44:34.030Z
10 km is the (terrestrial) limit before a rock (you'd call it a mountain at this point) starts deforming under its own weight.
Jean-Marie Prival
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:47:06.327Z
Would you consider a tectonic plate "a rock"?
Nuclear Hoagie
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:50:04.827Z
@NuclearHoagie A tectonic plate could be considered as a rock, since it is part of the lithosphere.
Arunabh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-03-21T17:50:51.990Z
If a tectonic plate is a rock for you, then so must be planets...
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
<geology><rocks>
Is there a theoretical maximum size limit for a rock?
Arunabh
# Is there a theoretical maximum size limit for a rock?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-03-21)

There are many types of rocks: igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks. Some rocks are simply huge. Some of them are tiny. Is there a theoretical upper limit on the size of a rock, and what is it based on?

**Tags:** geology, rocks

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What do you call a rock? Is a mountain a rock? Is a planet a rock?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks, and metamorphic rocks.  
> **username_1**: I repeat my question.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 A rock is a mineral matter of variable composition, consolidated or unconsolidated, assembled in masses or considerable quantities in nature, as by the action of heat or water.  
> **username_2**: 10 km is the (terrestrial) limit before a rock (you'd call it a mountain at this point) starts deforming under its own weight.  
> **username_3**: Would you consider a tectonic plate "a rock"?  
> **username_0**: @username_3 A tectonic plate could be considered as a rock, since it is part of the lithosphere.  
> **username_1**: If a tectonic plate is a rock for you, then so must be planets...  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2023-03-22. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

In itself, it is very complex to claim what a stone is. However, the industry has to define it. For example, if a track ballast has to be covered with "stones", the stone factory has to know what they have to deliver. Therefore there is the following classification:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/DmI7j.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/DmI7j.png)

Source: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_size>

However, if the geology is to determine how big, for example, rocks or mountains become, it must be taken into account that as the size increases, the surface area exposed to erosion increases, which is one of the limiting factors for rocks or mountains not being able to grow indefinitely high.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2023-03-22. Score: 2

[Uluru](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uluru), in central Australia, is also referred to as a [inselberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inselberg) or a [monolith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monolith). It was once known as Ayers Rock before its indigenous name was adopted.

The [dimensions of Uluru](https://uluru-australia.com/about-uluru/uluru-facts/) are:

* Length - 3.6 km
* Width - 1.9 km
* Height above ground - 348 m
* Extent into the ground - approximately 2.5 km
* Perimeter around its contact with the ground - 9.4 km

Less well known is [Mount Augustus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Augustus_(Western_Australia)), in Western Australia, which is another inselberg. Its central ridge is 8 km long and it is approximately 860 m above ground. It covers an area of 4795 ha. It is more than twice the size of Uluru.


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