Del Puerto Canyon Serpentine EarthCache
Del Puerto Canyon Serpentine
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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SERPENTINE
DESCRIPTION:
Serpentine is a general name for a group of metamorphic rocks that geologists call Serpentinite. Serpentine usually occurs in veins. In color serpentine is apple green to black and can occur with areas that are mottled with light and dark colors. It can be similar in color and texture to jade and is sometimes mistaken for it.
COMPOSITION:
Serpentine is generally made up of one or more of the three magnesium silicate minerals, lizardite, chrysotile, and antigorite. Crystotile in its fibrous form is the most common of the asbestos materials. It takes an expert to determine if asbestos is present in Serpentine, so caution should be taken by anyone working around or collecting these materials. If you see white veins in the rock, do not scrape them. Breathing the fibers can be a health hazard.
HOW FORMED:
Geologists consider Serpentine to be the metamorphosed remains of magnesium-rich igneous rocks from the earth’s mantle. It commonly occurs in folded metamorphic rocks, probably from altered olivine-rich intrusions
WHERE FOUND IN CALIFORNIA:
Serpentine is found in the Coast Ranges, the Klamath Mountains, and in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is California’s state rock.
THIS EXAMPLE:
The example we are studying here is found along Del Puerto Canyon Road. To log this cache examine the formation found at the EarthCache location and send email to me with your answers to the following questions. Don’t put any answers in your log.
QUESTIONS:
1. Estimate and tell me how tall this exposure is.
2. Tell me the color(s) of the Serpentine found here.
3. Do you see any Chrystotile in the formation?
Additional Hints
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Treasures
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