Okay so this isn't a snow drift in which I though it was at first glance on a Febuary day. Nope this is lime stone, a lot of it. So lets learn about limestone!
First we all know that lime stone is a rock. But lets get a bit more scientific with it...I mean what is it REALLY???
What is Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock, which means it was formed from small particles of rock or stone that have been compacted by pressure. Sedimentary rock is important because it often contains fossils and gives clues about what type of rock was on the Earth long ago. Just like a tree's rings tell a lot about its environment, layers found in sedimentary rock can tell about important changes in the environment.
Okay so that's cool, we know it's compacted rock from smaller particles of rock, that is has fossils and can tell us a great deal about the area around us, but can you recognize it from other rocks? I mean what does it look like?
What does it look like
Most often limestone is formed from bones and shells. It is a light color most often white, but can be tan or grey, the color depends on the orther sediments in the mixture besides the mineral Calcite, which is white; impurities such as sand, clay and other organic materail will affect the color.
Did you know?
Limestone has quite a history. Long ago, limestone was used to build the pyramids in Egypt. And Romans would mix limestone with volcanic ash to form a type of concrete for building structures in Rome.
Limestone is important to making cement, but it is also found in other industries such as sugar refining, glass making, and leather tanning. Crushed limestone underneath roads and underneath railroad tracks. When limestone is heated, it helps manufacture iron and steel as well as alumina and magnesia. Limestone helps clean drinking water and treat sewage. Farmers will often spread fertilizer that contains ground up limestone on their crops. The limestone in the mixture is a source of plant nutrients and neutralizes soil acidity.
Because it is a softer stone, it is easily carved. Limestone appears in many buildings. Indiana limestone, also known as Salem limestone, can be found at the Empire State Building in New York City and on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum in Washington D.C.
Okay so that was a fun history lesson on limestone, to log this Earth Cache please include the following based on what you learned above and the given information at GZ. You have 24 hours to send me and email (found in my geocaching profile) with the correct answers. Failure to do so will result in the removal of your "Found it log". Please add the GC code and title in the subject line. If you are sending answers for multiple people in your group, please add all the names in your email to ensure they don't have their log deleted :) Photos with you or in the group of the area would be greatly appreciated.
Requirements:
1 At Ground Zero there is a placard that explains what has happened to the slab, please state what happened.
2 Please estimate the length width and depth of the lime stone slab
3 Baised on the info above, and the slab in front of you what mineral is most prevelent in this lime stone.
4 Are you able to find any fossils? If so decribe them.