Red River Odd Stones

The formation of the Red River odd stones dates back about 300 million years. Through crustal movements and the scouring of flowing water, deeply carved and winding river channels were formed. The riverbed consists of bedrock made up of interbedded siliceous rocks, siliceous shale, and quartzite from the Upper Paleozoic Permian and Triassic systems. The deep river harbors a rich abundance of high-quality odd stones. As karst limestone continues to develop and the crust rises, surface rivers rapidly downcut. Water intensively dissolves, erodes, and scours along structural fractures and other highly permeable zones, while gravity-induced collapse expands calcified sedimentation. Parts of the riverbed bedrock break off and fall into the river channel. After continuous dissolution and scouring by the river water, they form a natural art treasury—an open-air gallery of unique stones. The odd stones here are not only hard and rich in color, but also have excellent water-worn surfaces and a very smooth texture, making them highly valuable for both appreciation and collection. At the 2002 Liuzhou International Odd Stones Festival exhibition, Red River odd stones from Mashan won 1 gold award, 3 silver awards, and 1 bronze award.