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Sri Lankan civilisation traversed a rocky road driven by their solid bedrock

29 Nov 2020

By Naika Gooneratne When we travel along gravel roads, whether by car or by foot, we always feel the rocks beneath us, alongside the sand. All these rocks found in Sri Lanka take up various shapes and forms. As a result, each rock seems more unique than the other. Hence, the question remains, how do we categorise these different types of rocks? The majority of the rocks found in Sri Lanka are metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been changed from their original form. The original forms are pure sedimentary rocks or igneous rocks. As a result of heat or pressure from beneath the surface of the Earth, changes occur in the form of the rocks. This process is similar to how a butterfly is born. At first it lives as a caterpillar, but as time goes by, it forms a cocoon and metamorphoses into a butterfly. The origins of igneous and sedimentary rocks also have its own magical backstory. Igneous rocks originate from deep below the Earth’s surface. The Earth’s interior has higher temperatures compared to its surface, due to the presence of magma. This magma reaches the Earth’s surface through cracks and crevices. However, the magma solidifies as it gets closer to the Earth’s surface, because of the cooler temperatures that are present closer to the Earth’s surface. This solidified magma gives birth to igneous rocks. Therefore, we can easily consider them as magical fire stones, gifted to us from the interior of the Earth. Sedimentary rocks are born in the waterways that surround civilisation. Debris of pre-existing rocks, created through weathering and erosion, are carried down waterways. As time goes by, this debris becomes solidified due to pressure, owing to the creation of a rock once again. This provides the backstory to the birth of sedimentary rocks. In other words, they could be considered as rocks that are born again. Countless varieties of rocks are found across Sri Lanka. Whilst these rocks are a blessing in and of themselves, they also hold valuable minerals inside them. The most prominent mineral you may have heard of are gems. Gems are considered to be a keystone in Sri Lanka’s identity, with the blue sapphire being the most important. We may have seen pictures of gem miners sifting sand and rubble to find gems in the Ratnapura region, and in areas close to rivers. Rocks are composed of minerals, and as a result, they need to be broken in order to extract these minerals. The existence of rocks has contributed to the creation of jobs – such as of gem miners – and has enabled industries which use minerals – such as the graphite and mica industries – to prosper. In essence, rocks have formed the economic bedrock for a lot of Sri Lankans across the country. However, the bedrock that is spoken of isn’t limited to the hard rock found deep beneath the Earth’s surface; rather, it is metaphorical bedrock that is present in all of us. Sri Lankan civilisation would continue to survive and prosper, once we as the younger generation understand the precious bedrock we all possess.   The bedrock in our hearts is the will and courage to protect the precious resources of our mother country, now and for the years to come.


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