Shaped by design?

[Mock Turtle]

Anyone, after a bit of work, could probably have turned something like this on a lathe (the top one) - even me - and it does look rather 'designed' doesn't it - even looking rather like early UFO depictions. Except of course it wasn't. We found this, and the other similar one, in a cave passage. It probably lay unnoticed for a long time because the passage was rather mundane - a good-sized walking passage where one just gets on quickly since there is much more to do later.

I couldn't hazard a guess as to its age or how long it might have taken to form this shape. It was a stream passage, that is, that there was probably an almost continuous flow of water, and it was found to the side in a smallish rock pocket where water was swirling about. Hence, being trapped there, it and the other one were eroded to this shape by the action of water alone. Someone could have placed it there of course, but the existence of the other one, not so symmetrical, seems to counter this.

Round stones can commonly be found at the beach so one can easily see that erosion is enough to produce such shapes. I should mention that it was my friend who noticed it and let me have it after some begging - I had just cut myself previously I think too, so he was probably susceptible to my begging. I doubt that I would have let anyone have it if I had found it.

So, all those who would like to believe in intelligent design, what about this? Undoubtedly there are many, many other similar occurrences.

As an aside, and which some might have noticed, it would only take indentations on each side, and supported by these, to turn this into a wheel - I wonder where that might lead? When and how exactly did the first wheel enter our ancestors' thoughts - perhaps like this? Most caves would probably have been explored in the past, and this particular one wasn't that hidden or inaccessible.

As one might have guessed, the symmetrical one is my favourite found object.

 

[shunyadragon]

I would need more information, particularly the geology, but it is possible these are natural concretions (manganese/iron?) that weathered out of the bedrock. Are they comparatively heavier than regular stones?

 

[Mock Turtle]

I would need more information, particularly the geology, but it is possible these are natural concretions (manganese/iron?) that weathered out of the bedrock. Are they comparatively heavier than regular stones?

I'm no geologist. But I think these rocks are the same as the cave material - that is, that they are just bits broken off and deposited in a place where the erosion took place. The passage from my memory was of the same black rock - mid 1970s when this happened.

 

[shunyadragon]

I'm no geologist. But I think these rocks are the same as the cave material - that is, that they are just bits broken off and deposited in a place where the erosion took place. The passage from my memory was of the same black rock - mid 1970s when this happened.

Concretions often form in similar looking rock, but with higher concentrations of iron and manganese. There is a possibility that they are man made for some sort of throwing stone, but I doubt it.

Was this a limestone cave?

 

[JoshuaTree]

Could it be a stalagmite that formed on top a clay basin? There could have been an indentation in the clay that served to shape the object.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

I always turn to crystal formation to posit naturally occurring symmetry or "design" that occurs on its own, and which not many would insist required an "intelligence" to be able to form. Even a snowflake qualifies under the term "crystal."

But that symmetrical stone is a pretty neat find for sure.

 

[David T]

Could it be a stalagmite that formed on top a clay basin? There could have been an indentation in the clay that served to shape the object.

I wondered that as well.

 

[David T]

I found this rock in a cave. It appears that it was carved by wind erosion due to the natural variables in the cave walls which bounced the wind precisely. It's a very soft form of marble. It's rough shape undoubtedly was formed by volcanic action with the form being originally moulded by the hot and cold variables within the lava field. Nature is so amazing!!

 

[Mock Turtle]

Concretions often form in similar looking rock, but with higher concentrations of iron and manganese. There is a possibility that they are man made for some sort of throwing stone, but I doubt it.

Was this a limestone cave?

Yes, it is a limestone cave, and quite ordinary as caves go. Nice cave though.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Could it be a stalagmite that formed on top a clay basin? There could have been an indentation in the clay that served to shape the object.

The passage where it was found is probably about 3m square from memory, and quite ordinary too. One often sees stones at the side of such passages, presumably washed down in flood conditions and deposited there, but these stones appeared to be of the same material as the walls of the passage.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I always turn to crystal formation to posit naturally occurring symmetry or "design" that occurs on its own, and which not many would insist required an "intelligence" to be able to form. Even a snowflake qualifies under the term "crystal."

But that symmetrical stone is a pretty neat find for sure.

My precious!

 

[Mock Turtle]

Could it be a stalagmite that formed on top a clay basin? There could have been an indentation in the clay that served to shape the object.

I think that the fact that there were at least two of them, with one being less symmetrical seems to indicate they were formed where they were found - in this swirling pocket.

 

[shunyadragon]

The passage where it was found is probably about 3m square from memory, and quite ordinary too. One often sees stones at the side of such passages, presumably washed down in flood conditions and deposited there, but these stones appeared to be of the same material as the walls of the passage.

New information: Limestone cave subject to periodic flooding, You describe them as the same dark gray limestone as the cave walls.

There is a possibility that these stones are weather worn pieces of limestone in the flooding events trapped in round weather worn holes in the limestone wear the stones flop around and spin in the currents.

 

[Mock Turtle]

New information: Limestone cave subject to periodic flooding, You describe them as the same dark gray limestone as the cave walls.

There is a possibility that these stones are weather worn pieces of limestone in the flooding events trapped in round weather worn holes in the limestone wear the stones flop around and spin in the currents.

Yes, that's what I have assumed. I think the pocket was large enough for the stones to be swirling around quite a bit, but I can't remember exactly, or how many other stones might have been trapped too. Many caves like this are prone to regular rises in water levels and hence the amount flowing through such passages. Quite exciting caving too when the water level rises when one is actually in the cave and not expecting this.

Edit: In fact I started caving in Derbyshire shortly after the Mossdale tragedy, where six cavers drowned in a mostly flat cave system and where they had a lot of rain to flood the cave. They had no chance to get out or seek shelter. The group I joined were involved in the rescue attempt.

 

[Jumi]

Smooth round rocks are pretty cool, but no design there unless the natural laws were designed to make them. Here's a big one.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Smooth round rocks are pretty cool, but no design there unless the natural laws were designed to make them. Here's a big one.

Gee, who pocketed that one!

 

[Jumi]

Gee, who pocketed that one!

According to mythology, a kind of local nature spirit called hiisi.

 

[shunyadragon]

Gee, who pocketed that one!

Natural bowling ball manufacture.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I remember all the goofy nerds playing with those model molecules making all sorts of funny shapes and structures with them.

No I know why objects naturally look the way they do. Guess that makes me a goofy nerd
too. (Sort of) :0)

 

[Mock Turtle]

Natural bowling ball manufacture.

Obviously needs a big thank you for having the balls to do so.

I've uploaded the original (larger) images of the stones to my media album now.