Achill Quartz
This Earthcache will show you an abandoned quartz quarry.
The quarry was activ in the early 20th century. Since then the machines corrode and the buildings fall apart, but you will be able to discover quartz in one of its most common variety.
A short walk about 2 km from the parking place, following the footpath, will lead you to the quarry. Even on the way you will find phantastique examples of this mining product.
Quartz facts:
Quartz is a mineral of the chemical composition of Silicon dioxide (SiO2). It's the second most mineral in the earths crust after feldspar.
Quartz emerges via crystallisation of siliceous rock meltings. For this reason it is often part of igneous rocks.
In ancient times it was used in the making of jewelry and hardstone carvings. Nowadays quartz is very important as raw material in the ceramics-, glass- and cement-industry.
It belongs to the hard minerals and reaches the value of 7 in the Mohs scale hardness (diamond is 10). Its non-fissile, breaks as glass and shows greasy gloss at the fracture surface.
Quartz forms well shaped crystals, in a large variety of forms and colors, often caused by inclusion of other elements.
Some Examples:
| Type |
Color and Despription |
Transparence |
| Rock crystal |
Colorless |
Clear |
| Amethyst |
Purple |
Transparent |
| Rose quartz |
Pink |
Transparent |
| Carnelian |
Reddish orange chalcedony |
Translucent |
| Agate |
Multi-colored, banded chalcedony |
Semi-translucent to translucent |
| Jasper |
Cryptocrystalline quartz, typically red to brown |
Opaque |
| Milky quartz |
White, may display diasterism |
Translucent to opaque |
| Smoky quartz |
Brown to gray |
Opaque |
| Citrine |
Yellow to reddish orange to brown, greenish yellow |
Transparent |
| Vermarine |
Mint green |
Transparent |
list of sources:
Wikipedia
http://www.steine-und-minerale.de
Your tasks to log this earthcache:
1. Check the above chart to find out, which kind of quartz you have found in the quarry.
2. Describe the quartz with your own words related to size, form, color and surface.
3. What do you think is the reason for this special appearence of the local quartz?
4. At the coords you will find a remarkable quartz boulder. Estimate its height.
5. Optional: Please add a photo of your stay in the quarry to your log. (this is no obligation, but it would give us a pleasure. Be creativ ;-)
You can log your visit as a found directly after sending your answers. You will get a response in any case ;-)
Have fun! Viel Spaß!
Die Pädeldreter
