Llenroc Earthcache EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: It has now been over 30 days since Geocaching HQ submitted the disabled log below and, unfortunately, the cache owner has not posted an Owner maintenance log and re-enabled this geocache. As a result, we are now archiving this cache page.

More information in the Help Center

More
Hidden : 3/3/2008
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

Join now to view geocache location details. It's free!

Watch

How Geocaching Works
Looking for a different adventure?

Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions in our disclaimer.

Geocache Description:

Finger Lakes Stone in Ithaca quarries NY Bluestone (locally called llenroc). The above coordinates take you to a viewing spot. This is a working quarry, please visit only during business hours, and do not wander the site or climb into the pits.

Llenroc Earthcache


Geologic Formation:

Sedimentary rock is one of the three main groups of rocks (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic). Common sedimentary rocks include chalk, limestone, dolomite, sandstone, conglomerate and shale. Over time, pressure on sediment deposits squeezes individual particles into solid rock. This process is called lithification. The bedrock in Ithaca is almost entirely sedimentary material.

400 Million years ago, (in the Devonian Period), this area of New York was covered by water. Rivers from a range of mountains to the east of Ithaca drained westward into a shallow ocean that covered most of the interior of North America. At the mouths of the rivers a series of deltas developed, known as the Catskill delta complex. The bedrock of the Ithaca area consists of sandstone and shale deposited at the toe of the Catskill delta.

A type of (sedimentary) sandstone called bluestone is quarried at this earthcache and is used as building and landscape material around much of Central New York. The stone derives its name from its unique blue color. Locally, the stone is referred to as “Llenroc”, which is Cornell spelled backward. This stone has been used for over a century in Ithaca, and is prominent on some of its most historic buildings. The first buildings on the Cornell University campus, (Morrill Hall, McGraw Hall and White Hall), are constructed from Ithaca sandstone quarried out of Libe Slope. McGraw Hall was the early home of the Cornell Geology Department. Local retaining walls are often created by using enormous blocks of bluestone quarried here, approximately six feet long and two or three feet high and thick. As you enter the site driveway, you can see one of these walls to your left.

To Log this Earthcache e-mail me the answers to the following questions:

  • What is your estimate of the width, length and depth of the mining pit at the coordinates noted?
  • How many cubic yards of stone do you estimate has been quarried from here?
  • Please do not post the answer in your log.



Sources:
Finger Lakes Geology (http://www.priweb.org/ed/finger_lakes/nystate_geo1.html)
Overview of New York Geology (http://gretchen.geo.rpi.edu/roecker/nys/nys_edu.pamphlet.html)
Geological Sciences 101 (http://www.geo.cornell.edu/geology/)
Sedimentary Rock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sedimentary_rock)
Museum of the Earth at PRI

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



Advertising with Us

Inventory

There are no Trackables in this cache.

View past Trackables

What are Trackable Items?

Bookmark Lists

View all bookmark lists...