What exactly are those "Flying Saucer" shaped rocks that stick out of the side on the Appalachian Mountains???

Question

They are every where down here, and they are perfectly shaped like flying saucers, and they stick out of the mountain, yet they are nothing but pure rock. How do they get their shape? Anybody have any clues?

I do not have a picture, but they appear to be dark brown, and very smooth. I even see them sat out in people yards, I guess when they finally fall out of the side of the mountain, people collect them....

I looked up Boudinage pictures, and it does not fit what I am seeing on the mountains. The rocks I am seeing seem to stick out of rocky surfaces when the rocks themselves are smooth...I have no idea.

Answer 1

I work in the Appalachians and I am not sure I know what you're talking about. Do you have a picture?

The only thing I can think of is a boudin.

***Well all I can think of is that they are pods of some sort of harder rock that maybe intruded as a sill or dike that was compressed during the orogeny and formed the little discs. I am arm waving on this one based on what I know about orogenic events. Try to get one and take it to the local college.

Answer 2

I know what you mean, but don't know what they're called... we used to call them petrified dino plops.... *smile*.......