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submitted 1 month ago by hperrin@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

I was discussing this with some friends yesterday, and we’ve basically narrowed it down to three contenders. In order:

  1. Salt
  2. Ice
  3. Copper ore

Rules:

Going by dictionary definition of “rock”, which means “stone”, which means “mineral”.

Water is a mineral according to the dictionary, which is why ice is in there.

Minerals are inorganic according to the dictionary, so things like sugar crystals don’t count, since they’re organic.

So, is it one of those three, or are there other delicious rocks that we’ve overlooked?

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[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 month ago

People used to flavor everything with lead, so I bet it's tasty. Some historical records hinted that it's sweet. I still wouldn't try it tho.

What does copper ore taste like?

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago

Oh! That’s a good answer! I’m also not willing to try it, but I’ll have to look up what people say about it.

We settled on copper ore, since I don’t know if you would consider a copper ingot to be a rock. But I personally find the taste of copper delightful.

[-] ganymede@lemmy.ml 5 points 1 month ago

where/how/what are you eating copper which permits you to taste it?

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

I have a copper pen. It tastes good.

[-] voracitude@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Sorry, no, water is not a mineral because it doesn't have a characteristic crystalline structure, and if a dictionary says otherwise it's wrong: https://geology.com/articles/water-mineral/

However ice can be, if it forms naturally - the definition of mineral is:

A naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness.

And yes, this means that if you grow a crystal like a diamond for example in a lab, technically it's not a mineral (it's just sparkling rock).

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Yeah, we’re talking about ice.

5

a

a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature

broadly  any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground

- https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mineral

The rule we decided on in the discussion was that we would follow the dictionary definition of “rock”, which led us to conclude that ice is a rock.

If we want to be super pedantic, the dictionary does have a definition of rock as in “rock candy” that’s a sugar crystal, but we decided in the spirit of the discussion that we would not consider “rock” to include “rock candy”. And for the same reason, we do not include chunks of crack cocaine.

[-] voracitude@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Well, okay, I understand what you mean and why, but you stated "water is a mineral" in your post, so I was just clarifying that bit.

Edit: As well, naturally-occurring is important. Merriam-Webster is wrong, at least in the scientific sense. Again, sorry. This is the internet and pedants like me thrive here 😅

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I agree, which is why we didn’t include simply “copper”, but “copper ore”, since I don’t think ingots of pure copper occur naturally. (But I could totally be wrong here, I’m just guessing.)

Ps, I love the pedantry. :)

[-] Shotgun_Alice@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago

Native Copper does naturally occur, especially in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 month ago

Ah, ok. I guess that one should just be “copper” then.

[-] SpookyLights@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

Does copper taste good? Asking for myself

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago

I like the taste.

[-] confuser@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 month ago

Ice V Yes actually ice v is a thing

[-] jeena@piefed.jeena.net 12 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I would ask the rockbiter.

[-] protist@mander.xyz 5 points 1 month ago

They look like good, strong hands...

[-] VeryVito@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 month ago

From my observations at music festivals, I’d guess either Jam Rock or Acid Rock.

[-] cypherpunks@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 month ago
[-] monovergent@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 month ago

Halite is a boring answer, but Potassium chloride ("No Salt") is a fun rock to taste. Ice prepared with heavy water is the only sweet-tasting mineral that comes to mind.

Sal ammoniac is another fine-tasting rock. Copper ore might be the worst of the options here, I hate the taste of copper in drinking fountains.

[-] hperrin@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

Really? I quite like the taste of copper. I have a copper pen and it’s delicious.

[-] etchinghillside@reddthat.com 5 points 1 month ago
[-] franzfurdinand@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago
[-] Zahille7@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Is that graphite encasing it?

[-] Jimmycrackcrack@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

They're even wearing little chef hats

[-] AmbiguousProps@lemmy.today 1 points 1 month ago

It looks delicious, for real. Like, I want it in me.

[-] riquisimo@beehaw.org 5 points 1 month ago

Yeah, salt. Salt is the best rock. Salt.

It makes everything taste better. Salt, sugar, and caffeine are the big 3 addicting things and only salt is a rock.

Now of you're a Goron...

[-] radiouser@crazypeople.online 4 points 1 month ago

I got some from Brighton beach once, that was pretty tasty. Yes I broke your rules.

[-] Yeahigotskills2@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

I'll see your Brighton and raise you Blackpool.

[-] Suck_on_my_Presence@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

Shale. It doesn't taste like much, but the consistency is like a really good chocolate bar, so it kinda messes with the mind. Thanks I don't have pica, but that would definitely be my rock of choice

[-] slacktoid@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)
[-] TheKracken@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

Tea is organic so it doesn't count.

[-] slacktoid@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

Oh fair, that slipped my mind.

[-] SlartyBartFast@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 month ago
this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2025
30 points (96.9% liked)

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