Welcome to Mount Wycheproof - the smallest registered mountain in Australia - a staggering 43metres tall!
Apart from this claim to fame it also has significant geological aspects too!
Mt Wycheproof is a granite outcrop that erupted many thousands of years ago. It is known as a 'metamorphic boss'. Metamorphic rocks have been modified by heat, pressure, and chemical processes, usually while buried deep below Earth's surface. Exposure to these extreme conditions has altered the mineralogy, texture, and chemical composition of the rocks.
In 1995 Bill Birch and mineralogy students from Latrobe University named the unique quartz on the mount as Wycheproofite. This mineral, pearly orange in colour is a hydrated sodium aluminium zirconium phosphate crystal. The mineral occurs as compact, finely fibrous masses in small cavities in the quartz/feldspar/muscovite/schorl-bearing pegmatite. The fibrous crystals are between 5 and 10 μm wide and up to several mm long. Accompanying minerals include two other zirconium phosphates - kosnarite and a new species, selwynite, the K-analogue of gainesite - as well as wardite, eosphorite, cyrilovite, leucophosphite, rockbridgeite, a kidwellite-like mineral and saleeite.
The make up of Wycheproofite:
Formula: NaAlZr(PO4)2(OH) · H2O
Colour: Pale pinkish orange to pale brownish orange.
Lustre: Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness: 4 - 5
Crystal System: Triclinic
Logging the Cache
Your task is to answer a few simple questions:
1. Look at boulders to the right of the sign. Describe their colour and lustre. Based on your observation, do you think these particular rocks are Wycheproofite?
2. Describe the mountain and the surrounding area. How do you propose Mt Wycheproof was formed?
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.
References:
1. Buloke Shire sign on site
2. https://www.mindat.org/min-4320.html
3. Birch, W. D., Pring, A., Bevan, D. J. M., & Kharisun, D. J. M. (1994). Wycheproofite: a new hydrated sodium aluminium zirconium phosphate from Wycheproof, Victoria, Australia, and a new occurrence of kosnarite. Mineralogical Magazine, 58(393), 635-640.
4. https://geology.com/rocks/metamorphic-rocks.shtml