A Comparision of Mojave Desert and Gobi Desert Viewing Stones

摘要

The collection and appreciation of unusual natural stones is ancient, dating back over 1,000 years in China and later in other Asian countries. Many of the earlier stones that were valued, such as Lingbi, Ying, and Iaihu, were varying forms of ancientmarine limestone or metamorphic rocks from carbonate based materials. These were found in exposed or shallow land-based deposits, mountain ranges, while others came for lakes or ancient lake beds. These are well documented in many of the Imperial Chinese dynasties. Many other stones were taken from rivers, stream and the beds than line waterways. It is only in recent times that stones originating from desert regions were being collected and used as viewing stones. This article will illustrate and compare desert stones from the huge Gobi Desert in northern China with the Mojave Desert of the American Southwest. Most of the American stones are from the personal collection of Hanne Povlsen, except for two stones from the collection of Ann Horton. The Gobi stones are from the collection of Tom Elias and Hiromi Nakaoji.