Granite is a plutonic rock, meaning that it forms underground. Hot magma is forced between layers of rock by pressure under the Earth’s surface. When the magma cools and turns slowly into solid stone, minerals in the magma form crystals that can be seen easily if the granite is cut and polished. By observing the tightness of the crystal patterns in granite, one can determine if crystallization took place close to the Earth’s surface or deep in the Earth’s crust; cooling towards the surface is faster resulting in a more spread out crystal pattern, while magna that is deep in the Earth’s crust takes longer to cool resulting in a more dense crystal pattern.
The color of granite mostly depends on the type of feldspar it contains. Plagioclase feldspars typically are milky white, while alkali feldspars range in color from brick red, emerald green, to pale yellow. Feldspar breeds aquire grey and black colors from the admixture of dark-colored minerals, mica or pyroxenes.
The Memphis Pink Palace Museum hosts a very Precious piece of granite that evolves one of the most solemn monuments of our country. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10:30am-5pm, find yourself at GZ, and you will discover rich Memphis history of how our city contributed to this Great monument which to this day has rippling effects of emotion and closure. There is an admission(fee) to gain access to the museum; however, all active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve will have free admission since the Pink Palace is a Blue Star Museum. In order to claim a find for this cache, I ask that you find this Precious granite in person(no armchair finders); consider looking closer at some granite objects prior to and after visiting to get a better idea of the uniqueness of this sample. Submit to me the answers to the following questions, and you may then log this cache:
1 Would you say the crystal patterns are in a tight or loose grouping?
2 Based on what you learned about feldspar, in your own words, does this sample have much feldspar in it?
3 Polished granite has a nice effect that makes this granite sample even more special. What is this effect and how does it make you feel when you look at it?
4 What is the name in the bottom right corner of the sample?
The posted coordinates will lead you to the entrance of the museum. The final is listed as a waypoint. I wish you the best of luck on your quest for this Precious Granite. The other pieces of this Precious Granite lay in the Mall of our Nation's Great capitol and will last the test of time honoring a group of men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I hope that it enriches you as much as it did me.