NOTE: This is an earthcache, there is no physical container to find at the coordinates. To get your smiley for the cache, e-mail your answers for the questions below to the cache owner.
1-At the coordinates describe the mortar on the wall of the fortress and the bedding floor in terms of color and composition.
2-On a scale of 1-5 (1 = fortress stones, mortar, and floor are breaking apart and 5 = fortress stones, mortar, and floor are in perfect condition) rate what you believe the current condition level of the stones and mortar are. Give your reasoning for your answer.
3-If this area of the fortress needed to be restored, what type of mortar would you use and why?
This earthcache is located with permission from the National Park Service. The Castillo San Felipe del Morro is open year-round except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The coordinates of this earthcache take you to an outside border wall near a sentry box where the questions can be answered. If you would like to go inside the fortress for fun, there is a fee.
Welcome to the iconic Castillo San Felipe del Morro (El Morro)! This unconquerable fortification was built by the Spanish, and was the most feared of all. Due to its position on the hill and its incredibly thick walls, even cannon balls could not penetrate this fort. If you have been to Disney, and the fortress looks a little familiar to you, it may be because it was the inspiration for The Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
El Morro Construction
In 1539, construction of the fortress was commissioned by King Charles I of Spain. At first, it was just a fortified tower, but then over the next 200 years, it developed into an enormous fortress. In the late 16th century to the late 17th century, it transformed into a 6 level 18-25 feet thick-walled stronghold. Particularly from 1765 to 1790, outer walls were rebuilt with ashlar masonry or large wall blocks made of local sandstone precisely cut with minimal gaps that were filled with sand and clay. Construction of the inner walls were mampostería, a Spanish technique, in which mortar is used to bind stone rubble together.
Additional modifications to the fortress occurred from 1824 to 1832 which included resurfacing with stucco made from lime or a mixture of lime and clay. Largely what we see today is the fortress being restored with mortar patches. The Spanish use of building materials was conservative and very little changed over the years. For this reason, studying and identifying the types of mortars in the fortress help us to accurately preserve it.
El Morro Mortars
Recent onsite and lab examinations concluded that there are three categories of mortars used on El Morro. Based on overall color and composition, they were identified as red/beige, white, and brick-dust.
Red/beige Mortars
Red/beige mortars are typically found on bedding stone in El Morro, but are also used as stucco. It is made from local pit sands found on the island, and is composed of quartz grains partially coated with iron oxide. This mortar has not weathered well overtime as it easy crumbles and has been covered over in many places by white mortar.
White Mortars
White mortars found in El Morro are composed of lime and beach sand. Local beach sands here are composed of white and yellow quartz grains, with small amounts of magnetite, feldspar, pyroxene and volcanic rock. Since beach sand is cleaner than pit sand, it produces a more durable mortar. White stucco covers almost all exterior walls of the fortress. White mortar is used for bedding, brick edging, and the merlons and banquettes where the cannons were
positioned.
Brick-Dust Mortars
Brick-dust mortars at El Morro range from pink to red in color and are made with lime, beach sand, and pulverized brick. Brick dust was mostly used in the 1900’s sparingly due to costs; it is very strong and durable. It can be found on terrepleins (places where guns are mounted), gutters, tops of merlons, and decorative surface stucco.
Questions:
Now it is time for the questions. To get credit for the cache, please answer the questions below. When answering the questions, do your best. It is more important that you learn a new concept about our earth and can apply your knowledge rather than have a precise answer.
1-At the coordinates describe the mortar on the wall of the fortress and the bedding floor in terms of color and composition.
2-On a scale of 1-5 (1 = fortress stones, mortar, and floor are breaking apart and 5 = fortress stones, mortar, and floor are in perfect condition) rate what you believe the current condition level of the stones and mortar are. Give your reasoning for your answer.
3-If this area of the fortress needed to be restored, what type of mortar would you use and why?
Thank you for visiting this earthcache. Please send your answers to the above questions to the cache owner. In your "found it" log, feel free to write about your experience, but don't include the earthcache answers. We hope you enjoy the iconic Castillo San Felipe del Morro!
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/saju/learn/historyculture/el-morro.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castillo_San_Felipe_del_Morro
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stucco
https://www.researchgate.netpublication/272252936_Masonry_mortars_in_the_castillo_de_san_felipe_del_morro_san_juan_puerto_rico
_A_method_for_categorization
https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/saju/fortifications_3.pdf
https://www.puertoricobygps.com/fort-san-felipe-del-morro/