This is an Earthcache, a special geological location people can visit to learn about a unique feature of the Earth. To log an EarthCache, you will have to provide answers to questions by observing the geological location. For more information about EarthCaches visit Earthcache.org. You will be looking at the geology of three memorials to our veterans and identifying features dealing with the rock cycle.
**Logging Requirements**
DO NOT POST ANSWERS IN YOUR LOG. Send the following answers to me via email by clicking on my name above.
A. The text "GC5R0WF - Paducah's Rock Cycle" on the first line
B. At the Vietnam War Memorial (N 37° 05.018 W 088° 35.911)
1. Examine the polished rock face of the vertical stone and determine color and crystal size.
2. Based on the descriptions below, is this a Sandstone (coarse texture), a Limestone (dull white to gray), a Marble (interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals), a Gabbro (non-visible or very large crystals, high polish), a Granite visible crystals, especially light colored quartz, high polish), or a Basalt (dullish, no crystals, no polish)?
3. Is this a sedimentary, an igneous, or a metamorphic rock?
a. if sedimentary, which type: clastic, chemical, or organic.
b. if igneous, which type: intrusive or extrusive.
c. if metamorphic, foliated or non-foliated.
C. At the Korean War Memorial (N 37° 4.995 W 088° 35.928)
1. Examine the polished rock face of the vertical stone and determine color and crystal size.
2. Based on the descriptions below, is this a Sandstone (coarse texture), a Limestone (dull white to gray), a Marble (interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals), a Gabbro (non-visible or very large crystals, high polish), a Granite visible crystals, especially light colored quartz, high polish), or a Basalt (dullish, no crystals, no polish)?
3. Is this a sedimentary, an igneous, or a metamorphic rock?
a. if sedimentary, which type: clastic, chemical, or organic.
b. if igneous, which type: intrusive or extrusive.
c. if metamorphic, foliated or non-foliated.
D. At the World War II Memorial (N 37° 05.011 W 088° 35.874)
1. Examine the polished rock face of the vertical stone and determine color and crystal size.
2. Based on the descriptions below, is this a Sandstone (coarse texture), a Limestone (dull white to gray), a Marble (interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals), a Gabbro (non-visible or very large crystals, high polish), a Granite visible crystals, especially light colored quartz, high polish), or a Basalt (dullish, no crystals, no polish)?
3. Is this a sedimentary, an igneous, or a metamorphic rock?
a. if sedimentary, which type: clastic, chemical, or organic.
b. if igneous, which type: intrusive or extrusive.
c. if metamorphic, foliated or non-foliated.
E. Why do you think these monuments are made of the rock type they are?
Dolly McNutt Plaza
The plaza, formerly known as the City Plaza, was forst created in 1970 by the Paducah Urban Renewal Society. It was renamed in May 1986 to honor former Mayor Dolly McNutt for her service as City Commissioner, Mayor, and state legislator. The Plaza encompasses one square city block. The plaza was the location of the old Brazelton Home OLD, erected in 1858, and was originally a comfortable two-story frame structure designed to house a large family. During the War between the States its ten rooms served as headquarters for Gen. Lew Wallace, for a time commandant of the Union forces quartered in the city. In it Wallace entertained Grant when the Union chief of staff came to Paducah on one of his wartime visits.
Geology - Rocks and the Rock Cycle
The Rock Cycle is a group of changes. Igneous rock can change into sedimentary rock or into metamorphic rock. Sedimentary rock can change into metamorphic rock or into igneous rock. Metamorphic rock can change into igneous or sedimentary rock
Sedimentary Rock Sedimentary rocks are formed by the accumulation, compaction and cemetation of sediments. There are three basic types of sedimentary rocks: 1) clastic sedimentary rocks such as breccia, conglomerate, sandstone and shale, that are formed from mechanical weathering debris; 2) chemical sedimentary rocks such as rock salt and some limestones, that form when dissolved materials precipitate from solution; and, 3) organic sedimentary rocks such as coal and some limestones which form from the accumulation of plant or animal debris.
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks:
breccia conglomerate sandstone
Chemical Sedimentary Rocks:
chert rock salt dolomite
flint chemical limestone iron ore
Organic Sedimentary Rocks:
chalk tufa coal
oil shale organic limestone
Igneous Rock Igneous rocks are formed from the solidification of molten rock material. There are two basic types: 1) intrusive (meaning: "under the surface") igneous rocks such as diorite, gabbro, granite and pegmatite that solidify below Earth's surface; and 2) extrusive (meaning: "above the surface") igneous rocks such as andesite, basalt, obsidian, pumice, rhyolite and scoria that solidify on or above Earth's surface. Intrusive rocks cool slowly and have coarse-grained crystals. Gabbro is sold as "black-granite" and is the blackest granite that is possible Extrusive igneous rocks that cool quickly and have fine-grained crystals. Basalt is dull dark-colored, fine-grained extrusive igneous rock. Whereas obsidian cools so rapidly that it forms a glassy extrusive igneous rockand is usually deep black in color, but can also be brown, tan, or green.
Intrusive Igneous Rocks:
diorite dark gabbro gabbro
Extrusive Igneous Rocks:
andesite basalt obsidian
Metamorphic Rock Metamorphic rocks have been modified by heat, pressure and chemical process usually while buried deep below Earth's surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions has altered the mineralogy, texture and chemical composition of the rocks. There are two basic types of metamorphic rocks: 1)
foliated metamorphic rocks such as gneiss, phyllite, schist and slate which have a layered or banded appearance that is produced by exposure to heat and directed pressure; and, 2)
non-foliated metamorphic rocks such as marble and quartzite which do not have a layered or banded appearance.
Foliated Metamorphic Rock:
gneiss phyllite schist slate
Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rock:
marble quartzite soapstone
Recycling Rock On Earth's surface, wind, water, and ice can break rock into pieces through the process of
mechanical weathering.
Chemical weathering can also alter the chemical composition of the rock further causing degredation. The tiny pieces, or sediments, are carried away through the process of
erosion by the same agents of wind, water, and ice.
Deposition will "drop" the sediments in a new location and beginning the formation of new rock.
Subduction of Earth's tectonic plates will cause the meltng of rock forming the magma that will become igneous rocks. Sedimentary rock are the easiest to weather, whereas metamorphic rock tends to be more resistant to weathering.