Some rocks – when hit lightly with a hammer – offer nothing in return. Others sing. As if banging on a hollow pipe, the rocks ring out like off-key chimes. It's a rare and unexplained phenomenon that has made Ringing Rocks State Park a point of interest in Montana. The outcrop of rocks at the top of a hill may just appear to be, well, a pile of rocks, but the people who climb through the rocks searching for those haunting, echoing bell-like sounds know it's a very special place. In fact, there are less than 10 rocks that ring world-wide, said Bureau of Land Management geologist Dave Williams. The 10 musical rock formations have some commonalities, but there's no definitive answer as to why the rocks sound like dull wind chimes when tapped with a hammer. “Nobody really knows why this occurs,” said Williams. “I don't think anybody has done any specific studies on these rocks – or any other rocks that ring. It's more of a curiosity than anything else. I don't think anyone has even put together a series of ideas or theories on why they ring.” Still, Williams has his own idea as to why the rocks ring out when struck. He feels that's it's only logical that, as the rock eroded from erosive actions of water over the past thousands of years, they may have retained some energy if they were fractured a certain way. This energy may manifest itself as a ring when struck. erosive actions of water over the past thousands of years, they may have retained some energy if they were fractured a certain way. This energy may manifest itself as a ring when struck.
“Interesting geology” of the Eurasian plate and North American plate junction.”
Some rocks – when hit lightly with a hammer – offer nothing in return. Others sing. As if banging on a hollow pipe, the rocks ring out like off-key chimes. It's a rare and unexplained phenomenon that has made Ringing Rocks State Park a point of interest in Montana. The outcrop of rocks at the top of a hill may just appear to be, well, a pile of rocks, but the people who climb through the rocks searching for those haunting, echoing bell-like sounds know it's a very special place. In fact, there are less than 10 rocks that ring world-wide, said Bureau of Land Management geologist Dave Williams. The 10 musical rock formations have some commonalities, but there's no definitive answer as to why the rocks sound like dull wind chimes when tapped with a hammer. ffbgdg gngfd gnfd gjdfg fdng dnf jngjfdg fgdjfgdf gdgndf gf gdf gdfgfndjgf gfdng dfjgjfdgb gfdhgdgdf gdgdf gfd gdfg fdgfdgf fbfgdgfdgdfjbfbdfghfg fsfnjksdf fjsdfjsdf sfjsbdfnsd fsnd fsjfns fsnf sbhfbs fsdbf sdhfsdhfbsfbsdfhsdf sdfsdfbshdbfhsdfbsd