Spring Mill Kilns EarthCache
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Spring Mill Village history extends back into the early 1800’s. Samuel Jackson operated the first grist mill in 1814. The village was last owned by Jonathan Turley and much of it was sold to Lehigh Portland Cement Company in 1892.
One of several business ventures in the village area was lime production. Lime was used for mortar, plaster, and to decrease the acidity of soil (called sweetening). Two things needed to produce lime were a fuel source (wood) and limestone, both abundant in this area. In this area of southern Indiana, limestone used was from the Salem and St. Genevieve formations. Kilns were used to heat the limestone to drive off the carbon dioxide leaving calcium oxide (CaO) – lime.
CaCO3 + heat = CaO + CO2
There are two kilns that were in this particular area and are located just off of trail #5. The coordinates take you to the one that is in better condition. The kilns were built into the side of the hill and were of nearly rectangular shape. There was a conical shaft in the middle with a grating near the bottom. Wood and limestone were put on the grate from the top. When the wood burned, it heated the limestone and drove off the carbon dioxide leaving a powder – lime. The lime was shoveled out from the mouth of the kiln at the bottom. The source of the limestone was a quarry that was very close to the kilns.
To log this cache, you MUST submit a picture from the coordinates, showing the kiln and yourself with your GPSr at the time you submit the log.
In addition, email the answers to the following questions. Email your answer to me before logging.
1) In what direction from the kiln is the nearby abandoned quarry that was the source of limestone? (You will need to make a quick survey of the surrounding area to answer this one and it's not the lake)
2) What is the approximate distance from the kiln to the quarry?
3) Besides pieces of limestone, what man-made materials are lying near the mouth of the kiln?
Logs submitted without answers WILL BE DELETED by owner. There is a gate fee to enter the park. When you stop at the gate, be sure to get maps and brochures of the park. There are many interesting things to see and do in the park and many other traditional caches and Earthcaches. Parking is at the Nature Center at the following coordinates:
N38°44.316, W86°24.836.
Appreciation is extended to park naturalist, Jill Vance, for her assistance.
Additional Hints
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