This is an Earthcache – as such, there is no physical cache. Instead after examining the Granite Monument at the posted coordinates, you will answer 4 questions and message me the answers. This Morgan Morgan Monument is located in Overton Park and the park grounds are open daily from 6am to 8pm.
This monument that was erected in 1924 to memorialize Morgan Morgan (1688–1766), an American pioneer of Welsh descent, who was among the earliest European persons to settle permanently within the present-day boundaries of West Virginia. This monument is made from granite quarried from Vermont.
Why was the Morgan Morgan Monument not made from stone quarried from West Virginia?
Well, the a big reason is that there are very few igneous or metamorphic rocks exposed at West Virginia's surface. Locally here in Berkely County the majority of bedrock exposed was deposited during the Paleozoic Era (545 to 230 million years ago). This area is chock-full of sedimentary limestones, dolomites, and shales. The downside of using sedimentary stones in climates with freeze thaw cycles, is that they weather faster than other stone types.
Enter Granite, an igneous hard rock that withstands weathering, freeze-thaw cycles and ice melting chemicals. The Vermont granite that makes up the Morgan Morgan Monument was formed about 345 million years ago when slow cooling Magma under the earth’s crust hardened. Unlike West Virginia’s igneous and metamorphic rocks that are still deeply buried, Vermont’s stones were exposed by retreating glaciers 13,000 years ago at the end of the ice age.
Barre (pronounced “Barry”) is known as being the “The Granite Capitol of the World.” There the Rock of Ages is the world’s largest producing granite block quarry. It is about 475 feet deep, covers 50 acres, and it produces 3 million cubic feet a year. The granite deposit there is estimated to be 4 miles long, 2 miles wide, and 10 miles deep.
Barre Granite is sold commercially as a "granite," but to a geologist it would be classified as a granodiorite (Check out the red [Ddgb] Derby Pluton on the Barre map above). You see, igneous rocks are classified and how their composition and texture varies by temperature. Minerals melt at different temperatures, so the temperature must be high enough to melt at least some minerals in the rock.
There are more than 700 different types of igneous rocks that are known. A "true" Granite contains mostly potassium feldspars, and it has a much lower percentage of dark minerals in it like magnesium and iron. A Granodiorite forms at a higher temperature and contains much more plagioclase feldspar as well as a higher percentage of dark minerals.
The texture of a granite rock refers to the size of it's crystals. The slower the granite cools, the larger it’s mineral crystals will be. There three common textures of granite are:
* Pegmatitic - A pegmatitic texture is one in which the rocks crystals are about 1” long to larger.
* Phaneritic -A rock with phaneritic texture has crystal grains large enough to be distinguished with the eye.
* Aphanitic -Aphanitic texture consists of extremely small crystals.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS:
To log this Earthcache: Read the geology lesson above. Answer all four questions posted below. Answers can be sent via e-mail or messenger contacts on my Geocaching profile within a reasonable time. Group answers are fine, but please include the members of the group you are with.
QUESTION 1. Why do you think a local stone was not used to construct this permanent monument?
QUESTION 2. Which of these two stones are formed at a higher temperature? (CHOOSE ONE)
A) Granodiorite
C) Granite
QUESTION 3. Now look closely at the crystals that make up this Barre Granite. How would you classify the texture of this granite? (CHOOSE ONE)
A) Pegmatitic
B) Phaneritic
C) Aphanitic
QUESTION 4. Look at the edges and engraved lettering for signs of weathering. Does the stone still look clean and sharp, or has Berkely County's freeze thaw climate starting to break it down?
OPTIONAL PHOTO: Posting a photo that readily indicates that you (and anyone else logging the find) are at the location.
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REFERENCES:
1. West Virginia's First White Settler Honored by Hundreds at Unveiling, The Sunday Star, September 14, 2024, Page 26, Newspaper, newspapers.com
2. "Talk of the Town", The Barre Daily Times, October 20, 1916, Page 5, Vol XX-No.185, Newspaper, newspapers.com
3. "Jones Brothers Co. Collection", Barre History Collection, Collection, 1910-1979, vermonthistory.org
4. "BEDROCK GEOLOGIC MAP OF VERMONT, 2011", Barre History Collection, Collection, 1910-1979, vermonthistory.org
1. West Virginia's First White Settler Honored by Hundreds at Unveiling, The Sunday Star, September 14, 2024, Page 26, Newspaper, newspapers.com
6. Morgan Morgan Monument, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, website, wikipedia.org