This is an Earthcache – as such, there is no physical cache. Instead, after examining the marble World War 1 Memorial at the posted coordinates, you will answer 3 questions, and message me the answers. This memorial is located just off Railroad Avenue and placed with Permission. Please be respectful of the memorial and visit during daylight hours.
This World War 1 Memorial was dedicated on November 11, 1921. It was originally placed at the Southwest Corner of the Elkton Courthouse, which was located near the corner of Main and North Streets. It was built locally by the Elkton Marble Company. In 1945 the statue was moved to this location when the old Courthouse was demolished. This memorial is often referred to as the “doughboy,” a slang term used to refer to U.S. Military during the Great War.
The marble that makes up this memorial originated in Rutland, Vermont, which is located in the narrow Vermont Valley Geological Province. This province is surrounded by the Taconic Mountain Province to the west, the Green Mountain Province to the east, and Champlain Lowlands to the north.
Marble is a Metamorphic rock, which means it started out as some other type of rock but has since been substantially changed from its original igneous, sedimentary, or earlier metamorphic form. These types of rocks form when rocks are subjected to high heat, high pressure, hot mineral-rich fluids or, more commonly, some combination of these factors.
This marble started its metamorphic journey as limestone, a sedimentary stone composed primarily of the mineral calcite (CaCO3) and also contains some other minerals, such as clay, micas, quartz, pyrite, iron oxides, and graphite.
Before metamorphism, the calcite in the limestone is often in the form of lithified fossil material and biological debris. During metamorphism, this calcite recrystallizes and the texture of the rock changes. This starts when the limestone was subjected to heat and pressure.
It is this recrystallization that marks the separation between limestone and marble. Marble that has been exposed to low levels of metamorphism will have very small calcite crystals. The crystals will become larger as the level of metamorphism progresses.
Marble is porous, and liquid will find ways to seep into the stone and cause discolorations or dullness. Over the course of time the surface of marble exposed to acid rain (carbonic acid) will be corroded. Water will get into openings created by the action of the carbonic acid, and will expand as ice in the winter cracking the marble.
Carbonate stones, especially fine-grained marbles, are particularly susceptible to this form of deterioration. Sometimes the surface takes on a rough granular, crystalline or sometimes sugar appearance.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS:
To log this Earthcache: Read the geology lesson above. Answer all three 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 do not post the answers to the questions in your logs.
QUESTION 1. Look at the marble. Did the marble that makes up this memorial form with a long level of metamorphism?
A) Yes! I can clearly see crystals with my naked eye, which indicates that the level of metamorphism was long.
B) No. I can't see any clear crystals, which tells me this metamorphized for a short period of time.
QUESTION 2. Run your hand across a flat section of stone. Does it feel smooth or grainy like sugar?
QUESTION 3. Did you observe any forms weathering such as cracking, chips, or staining during your visit? What do you think was the cause?
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. Geology of West Rutland, K.Velde, March 9, 2020, Website, storymaps.arcgis.com
2. Our Doughboy: The Story of Cecil’s WWI Memorial , V.Naujokas, The Cecil Whig, May 29, 2017, Page A23, Newspaper, newspapers.com
3. Soldiers Monument , The Midland Journal, October 28, 1921, Pg. 1, Newspaper, newspapers.com
4. Elkton Doughboy Monument, Guided Tour of Maryland's Military Monuments, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, October 2014, PDF, veterans.maryland.gov
5. Cecil County Doughboy Monument, The Historical Marker Database, January 21, 2020, Website, hmdb.org