This Earthcache will Take you to 2 Locations a Bathroom Constructed of Slate and The "Tunnel Quarry which was and still is the most well-known of the sources of slate for the industry. Although formally renamed the Mantel Quarry later, it was equipped with pushcart tracks like those in an old coal mine, and the tunnels stretched under the streets of Slatington .
The Tunnel is still accessable and is a popular hangout for local teens as you can tell by the Graffitti on the walls inside, Bring a couple of strong Flashlights and go in if you DARE I've been in there many times it'pretty cool in there . also nearby is the Penn Big Bed Slate Company which is a working Quarry on Brown St.
Slate became a hot commodity and many Quarries existed from Bangor ,Pen Argyl,Wind Gap, to Slatington making up the majority of the region now known as the Slate Belt.
Slate is a fine-grained,foilated homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale type sedimentry rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. It is the finest grained foliated metamorphic rock.
Foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering, but instead is in planes perpendicular to the direction of metamorphic compression.
The foliation in slate is called Slatty cleavage It is caused by strong compression causing fine grained clay flakes to regrow in planes perpendicular to the compression. When expertly "cut" by striking parallel to the foliation, with a specialized tool in the quarry, many slates will display a property called fissility, forming smooth flat sheets of stone which have long been used for roofing ,Blackboards,Mantels,Billard tops,and even Turkey calls and floor tiles, Slate is frequently grey in color, especially when seen, en masse, covering roofs. However, slate occurs in a variety of colors even from a single locality; for example, slate from can be found in many shades of grey, from pale to dark, and may also be purple green or cyan. Slate is not to be confused with shale, from which it may be formed,.
ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND SEND THEM TO CLAIM THIS EARTHCACHE
1. At this location is a bathroom made out of slate feel the slate is it smooth or rough ? Is this type of rock Sedimentry ?
2. Look at the roof, the roof consits of various slate from other regions. there are various colors on the front and the backside the answers are on the wall inside, see Hint ,on the wall is a plaque that explains were they came from and what color. Tell me what 4 difffrent State's other then Pennsylvania and what color the slate is from also 1 item is from another country which country and color ?
Now proceed to the next waypoint for the New York tunnel Quarry and answer the Questions there.
3.Estimate the Height of the outcropping from the Cave entrance ?
4. Do you see any signs of weathering ?
5. Do you see any layers , are they thick or thin ?
6. Name 5 things Slate is used to make ?
7, Post a picture of you, Face not required or a personal object with a piece of Slate at the Cave entrance,