To complete this cache
You will need to visit the location and get down into the quarry; you are to look at the layers and compare the thicknesses of the layers of stone and answer the questions below.
Here is some information which will help.
The octagonal Jubilee Tower on Beacon Hill overlooking the town of Darwen was completed in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee and to celebrate the victory of the local people for the right to access the moor. The tower is often referred to as "Darwen Tower". It is 85 ft (26 m) in height, and there is access to the top via the internal staircase from where Yorkshire, Morecambe Bay, Lancashire, Cumbria, and surrounding moorland can be seen. On rare occasions, in favourable weather conditions, it is possible see the Isle of Man to the northwest.
This quarry is one of many in the area which were probably used to source materials for the stone walls and the tower overlooking the quarry. It is likely that this location was chosen for this quarry not only because it is close to the construction of the tower and reservoir close by, but also because of the different natural thicknesses of stone. Sandstone splits more easily along the clearly defined lines in the strata and if the stones naturally split into stones of different thicknesses, it makes it much easier to work for the men who constructed the tower and other buildings around.
If you visit the tower you will see it is made from an austere dark grey sandstone. The underlying geology is the Millstone Grit series with sandstones and coarse gritstones separated by bands of shale. The area was covered by ice during the Ice Age and boulder clay deposited as the ice retreated. The rounded hill tops are millstone covered with shallow soil or peat above 400 metres
At this site there is evidence of how the stone can compact during formation to a usable stone material of varied thicknesses right down to thin layers which will crumble and could only be used as a ‘fill in’ material. The reasons for this are that during its formation it may have been laid down in a constant way, creating thick layers, with no breaks in the way it was formed in a steady flow of water, or its formation might have been disturbed by other layers such as plant material or other particles washed across its formation bed.
Delta beds of large rivers are the place where this variety of stone could be formed. Think about the way water flow might have varied in this type of environment to help in answering the questions below.
DO NOT APPROACH FROM ABOVE.
Questions
- Please enter the quarry and but tell me how the stone formations differ; concentrate on the thicknesses of the rock strata.
- Why do you think these different formations of rock can be accounted for, so close to each other?
- How tall would you say it was from the quarry floor to the top?
- Why do you think this sight was chosen for a quarry, other than the close proximity to the tower?
If you feel willing or able please upload a photo of something interesting close to the quarry with your log.
DO NOT REMOVE ANY STONE FROM THE AREA OR CAUSE ANY DAMAGE DURING YOUR VISIT.
Thank you for visiting the sight