This interesting little spot just off the beaten track, gives visitors a tour of the main mineral industries of Perak, without even having to move from the spot! Minerals have always been a major source of income for the area, starting from the tin mining boom in the 19th century. At GZ, you can see a small lake. The state of Perak is covered with similar lakes, which are water-filled depressions left behind after tin mines. many are very large, as in the later tin-mining era, large floating platforms would float around on these artifical lakes, dredging up the rock and minerals from the bottom and sifting out the tin. These dredges were able to work large areas, and increased the size of the lake as they moved forwards.
Behind the lake you can see a hill with the native vegetation still untouched. This gives you an idea what the area would have looked like before the minerals industry took over. This is typical of the hills of the area, an isolated pinnacle of rock standing above the surrounding land, with steep sides and heavy jungle vegetation. These hills are mainly limestone, a sedimentary rock that has been eroded to form the valley floor that you now stand on. Further away, you can see many hills that have been heavily mined for limestone. You would have seen a lot of evidence of limestone mining on your way here, whole mountainsides being eroded and tall kilns reaching into the sky, burning the rock to remove the carbon dioxide and make the various powdered limestone products for which the area is known. The limestone in the Kinta Valley is plentiful and good quality. Commonly found with limestone is its metamorphic counterpart, marble, and you may have seen evidence of the marble industry also, on your way here. A few of the marble manufacturers in the area have showrooms, and sometimes a well-timed visit can allow you to see the marble being sliced. If you are heading back towards Ipoh, look towards the large mountain pictured below and you may see the marble mine to one side. It is most clearly visible from the expressway just after you enter from the Simpang Pulai entrance.
In front of you is a imposing building. At the time of placing this cache, the building has just started and the purpose for the building and the type of business intended to occupy it is not yet clear. Perak has many varied manufacturing industries, and this appears to be some sort of manufacturing plant.
Opposite the tin lake, a tiered limestone quarry stretches up the hill. In contrast to more usual messy limestone mining that spews down the mountain, this quarry, terraced in straight lines, appears neat and orderly.
