The Seneca Creek Floodplain At Blackrock Mill EarthCache
The Seneca Creek Floodplain At Blackrock Mill
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• This is an Earthcache. There is no actual container to hunt for at the listed coordinates, however there is a logging requirement. Please read below as you will be learning an earth science lesson about the unique features of this particular type of area. •
• This earthcache is located at the old Blackrock Grist & Saw Mill. Built in 1815 by Thomas Hilleary, it was named after the black rocks that lay across the creek. The mill was essential to farmers who needed to grind their wheat and corn into flour and cornmeal for the market. Mills were built near bodies of water, as the water was used as power to turn the huge wooden wheels. Ultimately, the mill was destroyed thanks to it's placement on the Seneca Creek Floodplain. •
There was originally a dam built upstream to supply a constant and dependable flow of water to the mill. It was also built the keep the flood waters from destroying the mill. Unfortunately, the dam fell apart and the mill was left in shambles. Rocks around the mill have been eroded particularly by the flood waters. There are many other factors here in play as well to show the amount of flooding that has occurred over the years. Take a walk around the area and observe it's geological features. See if they offer any evidence of flooding. Flooding generally occurs when there's an over abundance of rainfall into the creek which causes water to rise above it's normal levels and damage the surrounding area. The flooding has been occurring ever since the Mill was built in 1815 and has continued to increase over the past 200 hundred years with the help of surface water runoff.
The water mill was simple and energy efficient. Water was channeled through a flume to turn a water wheel, which, in turn was connected by a series of gears to the top millstone. The bottom millstone, was stationary. Grain was fed to the millstones by gravity, and the ground flour was collected in a meal bin.
Millstones were one of the essential aspects of the Grist and Saw mill. The type of stone most suitable for making millstones is a siliceous rock called "burrstone". Burrstone is an open-textured, porous but tough, fine grained sandstone. The surface of a millstone is divided by deep grooves called "furrows" into seperate flat areas called "lands". The grooves provide a cutting edge and help to channel the ground flour out from the stones.
The area continues to flood even to this very day. You'll notice there's a boardwalk leading to the doors of the mill as well as current evidence of flooding.
YOU MUST EMAIL ME VIA MY GEOCACHING.COM PROFILE WITH THE ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO CLAIM THIS EARTHCACHE *ANY LOG NOT MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL PROMPTLY BE DELETED* -
1. Examine the geological features of the area, specifically the rocks near the creek. Tell me what the texture and shape of the rocks are.
2. What evidence is there to prove that there has been more flooding here in more recent years? Why do you think that is?
3. What is the highest record of flooding at Blackrock Mill to date?
4. Using what you've learned, what do you think destroyed the dam?
5. How high was the floodplain after 100 years?
6. (OPTIONAL) Take a snap shot of yourself in front of the mill with the creek in the background.
| This Earthcache was placed by an: |
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Please be respectful of this type of cache and be sure to send the information within a reasonable amount of time before or after logging a find. If I haven't received any information from you within a few days of your find, please do not be surprised if your log is deleted. Any logs with the earthcache answers in them will also be deleted. Please respect the area and do not enter the mill past the gate.
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