Today we had a great sunny day out in the nature. Together with our friends we’ve been rowing on the Elbe River on pneumatic boats between Bad Schandau and Kurort Rathen (only about 15 km but full of fun). As we were waiting for the boats to be delivered we stopped on the river banks and had a quick barbeque. I used the chance and looked for some interesting stones.

Of course I did not forget to take a small sand sample for my Sand Atlas. This will be later added to my sub-project “Sands of the Elbe River”, a characterisation of the river sediments from the source to estuary. Even if the sand is not extraordinary in regard to its origin or texture, I feel happy with every single new sample added to my collection.

Among the stones collected, especially one has got my attention: a dark, well rounded stone of about 4 cm with lamelar basaltic intrusions in a crystaline mass (the photo above is 8 mm wide). I can only try to imagine what kind of forces got all those elements together over the millions of years of existence.