The Earth Science of this cache is to identify examples of the 3 main classifications of Rock.
First of all a bit about Victoria Station.
Victoria station, also known as London Victoria, is a central London railway terminus and connected London Underground station in Victoria, in the City of London.
Victoria Station was built to serve both the Brighton and Chatham Main Lines, and has always had a "split" feel of being two separate stations. The Brighton station opened in 1860 with the Chatham station following two years later. It replaced a temporary terminus at Pimlico.
About SideTracked Caches
This cache belongs to the SideTracked series. It is not designed to take you to a magical place with a breath taking view. It's a distraction for the weary traveller, but anyone else can go and find it too. More Information can be found on the SideTracked Series website at www.sidetrackedseries.info https://www.sidetrackedseries.info
So to the EarthCache:
So first of all what are the 3 main classifications of Rock?
The 3 main Classifications of Rock are: Sedimentary, Igneous and Metamorphic.
- Sedimentary
Sedimentary rocks are formed on the surface of the Earth, either in water or on land. They are called secondary, because they often result from the accumulation of small pieces (often broken off from pre-existing rocks). Most sedimentary rocks become cemented together by minerals and chemicals present when they are formed. Some, however, remain loose, crumbly and unconsolidated. Gravel is an overall name for large sediment grain size, which includes boulder, cobble, and pebble. Sand includes sediment grains ranging in size from 2mm to 0.625 mm. Silt is the name of a sediment grain that range in size from 0.625 mm to 0.0039 mm. Mud is the smallest grain size and is also known as clay. It is important to distinguish the grain size called clay from the mineral called clay. Clay sized grains are too small to see individually without the aid of a microscope. Layers are often seen as the sediments are dropped in cycles and disturbances between the cycles often causes a break in the rock formation and a new layer begins when it resumes. Fossils are another easy way to identify sedimentary rocks. limestone and sandstone are two of many examples of sedimentary rocks.
2. Igneous
Igneous rocks get their name from the Latin word ignis, meaning "fire." Under the surface of the Earth the magma is kept plastic by high temperature and high pressure. As the volcano erupts hot magma reaches the surface. Afterward the lava rapidly cools down and solidifies. The crystals formed by quick cooling magma are usually small. Magma doesn't always reach the surface. Sometimes it is trapped underground in pockets inside of other rocks. In this case the magma cools down more slowly forming larger crystals and coarse-grained rocks. How the rocks form will depend not only on the different cooling temperatures of the magma but also its chemical composition. Igneous rocks have individual crystals that are visible to the naked eye. Crystals can range from less than a millimetre to centimetres in diameter. Igneous rocks with a porphyritic texture show two or more distinct crystal sizes—coarse-grained crystals, visible to the naked eye, surrounded by fine-grained crystals. There would be no evidence of layers or foliation in an igneous rock. Visible crystals or phenocrysts are an easy way to identify an igneous rock. Please see below for examples of an igneous rocks.
3. Metamorphic
Sedimentary and igneous and metamorphic rocks which were subjected to intense pressure and/or heat and as a result underwent a complete change. Metamorphic rocks form deep within the Earth's crust. The process of metamorphism does not melt the rocks, but transforms them into other rocks which are denser and more compact. New minerals are created either by the rearrangement of a mineral's components or by reactions with fluids that enter the rocks. There are two distinctive metamorphic textures. The first is Foliation. This represents a distinct plane of weakness in the rock. Foliation is caused by the re-alignment of minerals when they are subjected to high pressure and temperature. Individual minerals align themselves perpendicular to the stress field such that their long axes are in the direction of these planes (which may look like the cleavage planes of minerals). Usually, a series of foliation planes can be seen parallel to each other in the rock. Well-developed foliation is characteristic of most metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks often break easily along foliation planes. Slate or gneiss are good examples of this type of metamorphic rock. The second type is Granular. This describes a metamorphic rock consisting of interlocking equant crystals (granules), almost entirely of one mineral. A granular texture is developed if a rock's chemical composition is close to that of a particular mineral. This mineral will crystallise if the rock is subjected to high pressure and temperature. A granular texture is characteristic of some metamorphic rocks. Marble is one of many examples of a metamorphic rock.
Below is a distorted image of the Memorial with 3 types of rock labelled A,B and C
So to the questions:
1. For each of Rocks A, B, C describe the colour, grain or crystal size and what the rock feels like to the touch?
2. Which of the rocks have fossils present?
3. From what you have read above and deduced from studying the rocks ..... what different classification of Ricks are A,B and C?
4. Name the types of rock of A, B and C?
5. Finally take a picture yourself or a personal item with the nearby departure board.
Please send your answers to me and your can immediately log after doing so. If there is a problem with your answers I will contact you. Please attach your photo to the log.
Thanks for visiting 😎😎😎