Nevada’s Native American stonemasons used, continue to use, all types of rocks, bricks and cinderblocks in their construction projects. The only stones they did not use were river stones, aka river rocks. “Why?” you might ask.
Well, not to be a smart ass, but we live in the high desert. The high desert does not have that many rivers, so, not that many river rocks. The second and most telling reason, is river rocks are not an easy material to use in construction projects.
According to online sources, “Building with river stone can be challenging due to its smooth, rounded shape, which makes it difficult to compact and interlock. This can lead to issues with stability and load distribution, especially in applications like road bases or retaining walls. While river rock can be used in landscaping and for erosion control, it’s generally not recommended for structural building applications.”
Plus, it turns out that river rocks can be dangerous. That’s right, the river rocks are both gorgeous and dangerous!
River rocks absorb moisture, especially if they have been submerged in a lake, river, pond or creek. River rocks can explode in a fire if they contain moisture, particularly if they are heated rapidly. This is because the water inside the rock expands into steam when heated, and the sudden increase in pressure causes the rock to fracture or even explode. Thus, it is not safe to use river rocks for fire places or fire pits. When a river rock explodes, it sends out hot fragments. These hot fragments can cause serious injuries to those in their path.
River rocks have to be dried prior to using for construction projects. For this, and many other reasons, many construction and design professionals recommend using manufactured or man-made versions of river rocks. Not only are these man-made versions safe, they are easier to use for building projects.
And, that dear friends, is why you will not see river rocks being used any Native American building projects in Nevada!