Two tries. 1st try: 3 : 3, 7th is fake if equal; otherwise, 2nd try: 1:1 picked from the light triple in 1st try. the lighter one is fake if any, the third one fake otherwise.

Trail 1: At random weigh two stones vs. two stones (3 sitting on the side) A: Of the 4 on the scales if one side weighs more then the other then weigh one on each side (since one of them must be heavier) B. If the 2 vs 2 are equal then at random weigh 2 (one on each side) of the three left on the side. If they are the same then the 3rd one that never got weighed is the heaviest. Simple case of process of elimination by grouping (Divide and Test)

I would first weigh in one stone, say stone 1, and assume the weight is say 2 lbs(try 1). Then separate the 6 remaining stones into 2 piles, 2,3,4 and 5,6,7. Weigh in either 2,3,4 or 5,6,7, it doesn't matter. Say 2,3,4, if the sum of these 3 is 6 then the lighter stone has to be in the 5,6,7(try 2). Weigh in 5,6, if the sum of the two is 4 then the lighter is stone 7(try3). If sum is less than 4 then weigh in either 5 or 6 to find out. So, the maximum number of tries is 4 and least is 3.

If the stones are made of the same material... they likely have the same density... therefor whichever one looks the smallest, will weigh the least... there... 1 step... just look for the one that is the smallest.