I finally tried that 'rock identification by licking' thing I saw online

I mean, I always thought it was just a dumb joke, like something from a cartoon. But last week I was out near Sedona and found this weird gray rock that felt chalky. I remembered a video saying to lick it to see if it stuck to your tongue, which means it's a shale. So I did it, and it totally stuck, just for a second. It was a shale, which made sense given the area. Has anyone else actually tried this, or is it just a weird trick that sometimes works?

4 comments

4 Comments

rowan_reed681mo ago

Licking the rock to check for shale... yeah, I've done that. Felt like a total weirdo standing there with a rock stuck to my tongue. My dog was just staring at me like I'd lost my mind. It does work, but I always hope nobody's watching from a distance when I try it.

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colescott1mo ago

Remember doing that, @rowan_reed68, my own dog judged me harder than any person ever could lol.

jason_stone591mo agoMost Upvoted

I read a geology blog that said this trick works because shale has a finer grain and sticks to your tongue.

the_mia8d ago

Wait, do people REALLY walk around licking rocks to tell what they are? I mean I get that it's a legitimate field test but it sounds like something you'd do as a goof, not something you'd actually rely on for serious rock identification. Like, did the geology blog also suggest sniffing them or tapping them against your teeth to check the sound? I'm not saying it doesn't work but it's kind of funny how serious everyone is getting about this tongue trick when you could probably just look at the rock or check its texture with your fingers. Honestly, if you're in a situation where you need to lick a rock to figure out what it is, maybe step back and ask if you really need to know that badly.