ALWAYS WALK LIGHTLY UPON CEMETERY GROUNDS
SHOWING RESPECT FOR THOSE RESTING HERE
VERSAILLES CEMETERY
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. The posted coordinates bring you to the Versailles Cemetery sign. Use the pic to find the concretion. ... a. What is the type of concretion found here? ... b. Describe its appearance relating to how this type of concretion is formed. NOTE: There are two different minerals clearly evident in this type of concretion.
2. MESSAGE …. Based on the location of these concretions, hypothesize as to how they arrived at their present location.
LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item at any gravesite with a flag. This picture is your log signature.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Visit a memorial honoring our fallen heroes. Post a picture at the memorial. Label picture with name and location of memorial.
B. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
C. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
DEDICATED TO bds for sharing your love of earthcaches.
THANK YOU Dr. Ovidiu D. Franţescu @ Pitt Bradford for your help with this earthcache.
CONCRETION
A concretion is a hard, compact mass of matter formed by the precipitation of mineral cement within the spaces between particles. They are found in clay strata that was originally mud laid down on the sea floor millions of years ago. Concretions vary in size and shape, but most usually spherical.
SEPTARIAN CONCRETIONS aka SEPTARIAN NODULES
These concretions contain angular cracks. Several explanations have been given for their formation - "dehydration of clay-rich, gel-rich, or organic-rich cores; shrinkage of the concretion's center; expansion of gases produced by the decay of organic matter; brittle fracturing or shrinkage of the concretion interior by either earthquakes or compaction; and others". Generally they are composed of Calcite centers, Aragonite lines, Limestone outer grey rock.
Septarians formed between 50 to 70 million years ago. As a result of volcanic eruptions, dead sea life was chemically attracted to the sediment around them, forming mud balls. As the ocean receded, the balls dried and cracked. As decomposed calcite from the shells was carried down into the cracks in the mud balls, calcite crystals formed. A thin wall of calcite was transformed into aragonite separating the bentonite heavy clay exteriors from the calcite centers. Because of this, the nodules are called Septarians.
OTHER TYPES OF CONCRETIONS
CALCIUM CARBONATE DISCS
These concretions aka fairy stones consist of small single or multiple discs often with concentric surface grooves.
CANNONBALL CONCRETIONS
These concretions are large round concretions resembling cannonballs. They were created by early cementation of sand and silt by calcite.
ELONGATE CONCRETIONS
These concretions form parallel to sedimentary strata due to the flow of groundwater.
HIATUS CONCRETIONS
These concretions are characterized by exhumation, exposure and reburial. They are most commonly found during periods in which calcite sea conditions prevailed, such as the Ordovician, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Fossils are often associated with these formations.
KANSAS POP ROCKS
These concretions are typically associated with thin layers of altered volcanic ash. Shape is generally oblate spheroids with variable sizes. Called "pop rocks" because they explode when thrown in a fire or produce sparks and a burning sulfur smell if cut or hammered.
MOQUI MARBLES
These concretions were created by the precipitation of iron dissolved in groundwater. They are varied in both shape and size.
ROSE ROCKS
These concretions are made of crystals that resemble a rose in bloom. The rock’s petal-shaped clusters is due to the intergrowth of crystals. The mineral comprising the rose was precipitated in interconnected voids in the rock.
RESOURCES
Wikipedia
http://www.geoessex.org.uk/files/geoessex_factsheet_6_-_septarian_nodules.pdf
This series is dedicated to my dad who served in World War II.
GOD’S PROMISE …. A MOTHER’S LOVE
Told by my uncle (Joseph) ... And my father (Anthony)
Family was seated around the table on Thanksgiving Day when my uncle related why he and his brother returned home safely from the war.
Unbeknownst to my uncle aboard the carrier transporting him across the Atlantic, his ship was targeted by an underwater submarine. There were flashes in the distance that he later learned was the submarine being destroyed.
While stationed in Europe, his base was targeted by enemy fire. He awoke to the sound of the thundering of bombs exploding and saw the dark sky turn bright as the noonday sun. Men were scrambling for safety, but he remained seated with a peace that passeth all understanding. When the carnage was over, he looked down. There was a piece of shrapnel lodged just above his heart, but had not penetrated through his clothing.
Similarly, unbeknownst to my father aboard the carrier transporting him across the Pacific, his ship was targeted by an underwater submarine. There were flashes in the distance that he later learned was the submarine being destroyed.
My father loved to be amongst nature whenever and wherever. One day he was comfortably seated below a tree in the jungles of Australia. He laid his helmet beside him and was enjoying the peace of the moment. When it was time to leave, he reached for his helmet but was guided to look within before placing it upon his head. There sat a poisonous spider which would have surely been his demise. He dislodged the spider and returned to camp.
One day while on her knees communing with the Creator, my grandmother prayed for her sons to return home safely. She arose from prayer knowing God’s hand was upon her sons and they would return unharmed.
And so it was, many close encounters, but my uncle and my father each made it safely home. It was there the two brothers learned of God’s Promise and their Mother’s Love.