Quartz Mountain Geological Reserve EC EarthCache

The reserve features the largest outcrop of pure quartz rock remaining in Victoria. The reef forms a north-south ridge approximately 0.8 km long. A "reef" is another term for a vein of some mineral or ore. Huge masses of quartz stand over six metres high and in one spot a massive forty tonne boulder balances perilously atop the reef. There are large quartz boulders and smaller pieces of quartz scattered throughout the surrounding bushland.

 

 

Quartz

Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a continuous framework of SiO₄ silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SIO₂. Quartz is one of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, and most quartz veins do not carry gold, but those that have gold are avidly hunted by prospectors.This area is not open to prospecting.

There are many different varieties of quartz the most common listed below:

Logging the Cache

Your task is to answer a few simple questions:

1. Look at the lone boulder. Explain what quartz you see - identify shapes, colours and sizes. How does the rock you are standing on differ to the lone boulder?

2. Thinking of the common varieties of quartz listed above - what quartz can you see here?

Once you complete the Earthcache requirements you can post your find without delay, as per the guidelines. You will also need to verify your find by sending me an email providing answers to the questions. This can be through the message centre or via gemmasiemensma@gmail.com

Thanks for visiting this Earthcache. I hope you enjoy it.