The Superman Building gained its nickname from it's resemblence to the fictional 'Daily Planet' building. The true name of the building is the Industrial Trust Building. It was constructed between 1927-1928. The building has a steel frame with Indiana Limestone on the upper portion and Deer Isle Granite as it's base.
Indiana Limestone is the most popular quarried limestone in the world. There are other famous buildings that also used Indiana Limestone which include the Empire State Building and the rebuilding of the Pentagon in the 9/11 attack. Limestone is a sedimentary rock made up of calcium carbonate. It is a soft rock and can easily be carved into. Limestone is prevalant to acid rain wearing it down, and therefore is not used as often in present day buildings. Evidence of acid rain can be pictured below. The acid eats away at the calcite in the limestone and dissolves it. You may see the stone crumbling in spots or a blackened crust. The blackened crust is the mineral gypsum which has formed from the reaction of sulfuric acid, water and calcite.
Granite for the base was quarried from the town of Deer Isle in Maine. John F Kennedy's tomb as well as the Smithsonian Institude are made from Deer Island Granite. Granite is an igneous rock. Igneous means it was formed from magma or very hot rock. When the hot rock cools. it forms a solid rock (granite). The main minerals in Granite are feldspar and quartz.
Granite is rated between 6-7 on Moh's Scale of Hardness. Limestone is rated between 2-3 on Moh's Scale of Hardness. Synthesize this information and use the chart below to answer Question #2 & #3.
There is no physical container at this location. You must read the cache page to learn more about what you will see and feel at GZ (Ground Zero). Please provide answers to the below questions in order to have a smiley face log remain.
1. Describe the difference between the stone chosen for the base and the stone chosen for the remaining upper portion of the building? Describe the change in texture, appearance, color, etc?
2. Why would the upper portion stone be chosen for that and the base stone be chosen? Looking at Mohr's Scale of Hardness would be helpful.
3. Take a look at the reliefs carved on the upper portion of the building. (A relief is a sculptural art in which figures are carved to show depth and an added dimension to the building). Using Moh's Scale for Stone Strength, why do you think this stone was chosen?
4. Do you see any evidence of acid rain on the limestone? If so, what do you see and where?
5. Upload a photo of yourself, or your GPS, in front of the Superman Building.