Here at the co-ordinates we are at an old quarry, from which many of the old mills in the Cheeseden Valley were made. This is a simple earthcache, no needing the Geology of the Rossendale Anticline, or having to submit a Phd Thesis in order to log it. Now the question is, what type of rock is it? So hence we have a little lesson :
Sandstone If it is unmetamorphised sandstone it could be grey red or yellow in colour. You will be able to identify lines which run all the way through the rock, where different seasons or catastrophic events have altered the composition of the deposits for a short time. The rock will be quite durable but feel rough to the touch and small grains will come off when you rub it vigorously.
Basalt Basalt is a dark igneous rock, and is made up of fine particles, because it cooled rapidly after it came out of a volcano. It is unsuitable for buildings since it is very hard and difficult to fashion into blocks for building.
Marble This is limestone that has been subjected to intense pressure underground due to tectonic movement. This rock is generally white with different coloured veins running through it. It is a very tough rock and would feel very smooth even after years of exposure to the elements.
Granite This is an igneous rock and will look a little like concrete, being made up of noticeably different crystals of different coloured minerals. You won’t be able to identify fossils because it forms from the cooling down of molten material. This is very good building material since it has no linear weaknesses.
Limestone A common building material especially in ancient times due to the decorative look of the rock. This is a white rock which suffers from chemical weathering, as a result of acid rain. This is one of the reasons why the Houses of Parliament are now in need of a lot of maintenance.
Tasks
Now look at the rock, have a feel, what colour is it, what does it look like, what type of stone do you think it is? How tall is the rock face? Please contact me with the answer, and do not include them in your log.