This is an EarthCache and has special requirements for logging it. You cannot log a Found It without responding to the logging requirements set out below.
Only one find claim per Message. Each Geocacher claiming a find must submit an individual response. One team can not lodge a response on behalf of a group of people.
The Gumigil Marlborough Chrysoprase open cut mine is located 15 kilometres south of Marlborough at roughlyS 22 57.784 E 149 50.818. Geologically, this area contains Princhester Serpentinite which forms most of the Marlborough Province (New England Orogen). According to Geoscience Australia, this area has lateritic weathering profiles containing chrysoprase, magnetite and Ni-Co ore, and it hosts minor chromite and magnesite.
It is known as either the Gumigil mine or the Marlborough Chrysoprase mine, and as a privately owned company, public access is not available. So our sample of rock containing Chrysoprase will have to suffice. But it is a fine specimen none the less.
This is the largest chrysoprase mine in the world and it was founded in 1905 and mined since 1959. It was producing about 80t of stone by 2000.
We were brought to this spot by a traditional cache, called "Chrysoprase" (GC5RGQN).
So what is Chrysoprase?
According to the "Wiki", it is a gemstone variety of chalcedony (a crystalline form of silica) that contains small quantities of the metal nickel - unlike Emerald which owes its green color to the presence of chromium. Its color is normally apple-green, but varies to deep green. Chrysoprase is cryptocrystalline, which means that it is composed of crystals so fine that they cannot be seen as distinct particles under normal magnification.
The mining process is interesting: Chrysoprase is mined at the Gumigil mine in an open cut manner: it lies beneath an iron rich cap that is sometimes 40 metres thick. The Chrysostom is found in veins in the soft, earthy clay beneath the iron crust.
The ore body is first ripped with a bulldozer that is followed by a person walking along behind inspecting the freshly ripped up material. This person marks out the areas where Chrysostom is exposed.
The gemstone is then either picked up by hand or dug out with the aid of a backhoe. It is then taken to a screening facility where it is separated by wet trommelling, quality sorted and packed into drums.
All the Chrysostom mined at the Gumigil mine is shipped to Hong Kong for processing and marketing.
It is mainly fashioned into ornamental objects including, bangles, beads, cabochons and carved into jewellery - hence the term "Australian Jade". It is easily worked and can be highly polished.
To claim this smiley, provide answers to the three questions below.
If you do not submit answers within a reasonable time, your log is likely to be deleted.
1. Chrysoprase contains which metal?
2. What does cryptocrystalline mean?
At the sample rock, take a look at the plaque.
3. The Chrysoprase is seaming in an iron-rich ??.
4. Take of photo of yourself OR your GPS to show a view of GZ. Include it in your message, but please do not post it in your log, it might give too much away.
You are NOT required to do any research for the answers to the questions on this earth cache. Your answers come from the description given above, and your own observations.
When you have your responses to the above questions, please, if possible, MESSAGE us, using the link at the top of the page underneath the name of the Cache. We prefer the MESSAGE method, as apparently, we don't respond to emails very well, but messages we do. We will contact you by return MESSAGE once your Message has been received. But you can log your find in the meantime, and just say that you have Messaged your answers to the COs.
Again, you may log your Found It at any time, and if there is a problem with your answers, you will receive further correspondence.
Happy Earthcaching!