The coordinates of this earthcache take you to the junction of New Street and and Market Street, you need to be on the New Street side to answer the questions.
Lancaster City Museum is housed in the former Town Hall, build between 1781 and 1783. When the current Town Hall in Dalton Square was built, this was converted into the Museum in 1923, where it remains today.
At the rear of the building, you will want to look at the old drinking fountain near the corner - there's what appears to be a model of a small bird in the middle. The bowl of the drinking fountain is no longer there, though you can see a rough semi-circle where is used to be.
1) Can you describe the stone that makes the drinking fountain - pay attention to the colours, what it feels like to touch and the size of the crystals that make up the stone.
2) Given your answer to question 1 and the information below, would you say the fountain contains more plagioclase or orthoclase feldspar?
3) Why would an igneous rock have been chosen for the surrounds of the fountain rather than the sedimentary rock the town hall is constructed from? The condition of the stones near the fountain may help you answer this question.
4) Take a photograph of you, your GPS or another identifiable item near GZ, taking care not to include anything in the photo that may give away your answers.
Please submit your answers via message though the Geocaching website - there is no need to wait for a response before logging your find.
Igneous and sedimentary rocks differ significantly in their formation processes and hardness. Igneous rocks originate from the cooling and solidification of molten magma or lava. This process, either deep within the Earth's crust (intrusive) or on its surface (extrusive), results in the formation of crystals, giving igneous rocks a generally hard and crystalline structure. On the other hand, sedimentary rocks are formed through the accumulation and cementation of sediments, such as mineral and organic particles, over time. These sediments are often derived from the weathering and erosion of pre-existing rocks. Due to their formation from loosely compacted materials, sedimentary rocks are typically softer compared to igneous rocks. The contrasting processes of solidification from molten material versus sediment compaction contribute to the distinct textures and hardness levels observed in these two major rock types.
Granite is a coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock that is predominantly composed of quartz, feldspar, and mica minerals. One of the key components of granite is feldspar, a group of minerals that includes both orthoclase and plagioclase. The presence of orthoclase or plagioclase in granite depends on the specific geological conditions during its formation. Orthoclase feldspar is more commonly found in granites that solidify at higher temperatures in the Earth's crust. On the other hand, plagioclase feldspar is prevalent in granites that form at lower temperatures. These feldspar minerals contribute to the overall composition and appearance of granite, with orthoclase imparting a pinkish hue and plagioclase ranging from white to gray.