Londonderry: Rich in Geological History EarthCache
Hidden : 2/26/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


History of Londonderry

Londonderry (formerly Acadian Mines) was incorporated in the 19th century as an iron ore steel making town, with mining starting in 1849 and was demolished prior to World War II as the scrap metal was used in the war effort.

Fig 1. Londonderry Mine

Geology of Londonderry
Londonderry lies just north of the Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault Zone, which is the most prominent geological feature in Nova Scotia. One feature of this area is the Devonian to late Permian sedimentary rocks. The Devonian sedimentary rocks are characterized by carbonate reef deposits and Permian sediments are deposited as thick wedges along tectonically active margins.


Fig.2 Map of Tectonic activity in Nova Scotia.


The coordinates to this earthcache will take you to a slag dump from the old mine. Slag is a by-product formed in smelting, welding, and other metallurgical and combustion processes from impurities in the metals or ores being treated. Slag consists mostly of mixed oxides of elements such as silicon, sulfur, phosphorus, and aluminum; ash; and products formed in their reactions with furnace linings and fluxing substances such as limestone. During smelting or refining, slag floats on the surface of the molten metal, protecting it from oxidation by the atmosphere and keeping it clean. Slag cools into a coarse aggregate used in certain concretes; it is used as a road-building material, as ballast, and as a source of available phosphate fertilizer. This geological feature looks quite a lot like sedimentary rock.
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Please be careful in this area and do not disturb the rock face as it is quite fragile and rocks may become dislodged.

To Complete This EarthCache, post the pictures in your log and email the answer to #3 to us do NOT post the answer in your log (encrypted or otherwise):
1. Take a picture of your group or GPS at the posted cords
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2. Estimate the height of the rock face
3. Email us the answer to the following question:
What caused the demise of the Londonderry Mine? How much iron was mined?

Any logs not meeting the criteria will be deleted.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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