Ever wondered why this place is called Coal Harbour? Well do this cache and you will learn why.
The name Coal Harbour originates from the history of coal discovered in the harbour in 1859 by Colonel Moody. It was low grade and didn't warrant much further exploration, however the name stuck! In 1862 the first settlers came to Vancouver and settled in the eastern part of what is now Coal harbour.
The discovery of clay associated with the coal by John Morton who is one of the "three greenhorns" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Greenhorns staked a claim at this spot. His claim covered the whole west end of Vancouver.
Coal is a hard rock which can be burned as a solid fossil fuel. The local first nations called it the rock that burns. It is mostly carbon but also contains hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen and nitrogen. It is a sedimentary rock formed from peat, by the pressure of rocks laid down later on top. This type of coal is called lignite, the poorest quality coal. Coal is often associated with sandstone, the local rock found commonly in Stanley Park. Coal quality originates from the amount and quality of peat, and pressure and age of the accompanying rocks. The local sandstone, Kitsilano formation, is relatively young, being of Eocene age - roughly 40 million years ago. Sandstone that is reddish has been stained by iron.
The art wall in front of you was constructed from local Kitsilano sandstone from a nearby tunnel and contains dark grey to black lines which is poor grade coal. There are three slabs which project over the sump at the base of the wall.
To log this earth cache you must face the rock slabs and answer the following:
1. Estimate the thickest layer of poor quality coal you can see in the wall?
2. What is the colour of the surface of the three slabs projecting over the sump?
3. What are the two colours of the carved sandstone bricks? What colour is the thinnest layer, that is the layer right at the bottom of the wall?
Send message and your answer at the same time as you log you cache so you don't forget. Logs with no answers sent in will be deleted after a week or so.
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