This is an Earthcache – as such, there is no physical cache. Instead after reading the lesson and examining the granite memorial at the posted coordinates, you will then answer 3 earth science questions and message me the answers. This earthcache is located on the Hagerstown Fair Grounds with permission. The park is open from sunrise to one half hour past sunset.
The John L. Cost Memorial was installed here in front of the Poultry Building at the Park hours are sunrise to one half hour after sunset.Hagerstown Fair Grounds in 1913. The monument weighs between 6 to 7 tons, and it is capped of 2.5 foot diameter polished granite ball that represents the world. This is the first memorial erected to a man who was devoted to the business of raising chickens. Under the leadership of Cost, the poultry program of the Hagerstown Fair became the largest in the world.
Why choose granite for his memorial? Granite it is the most common igneous rock found at Earth's surface. It is one of the most commonly recognized igneous rocks because it is used to make so many objects that we encounter in daily life. These include counter tops, floor tiles, paving stone, curbing, stair treads, building veneer, and many monuments like this one.
This darker granite is Alkali granite, which is a type of granite found in Massachusetts. It's a medium-grained rock that's rich in alkali feldspar and is usually dark gray in color. New England's granites formed over millions of years through a series of mountain building events, collisions. Underneath the uplifted mountains a large intrusive pool of magma began to slowly cool, allowing large crystals of quartz, mica and feldspar to form. The magma intruded into the layers above, forming large veins of new rock.
Although granites are extremely durable, they are not indestructible. As you approach the Cost Monument you can immediately see that there is obvious mechanical weathering damage. Weathering is the natural process of breaking down materials, and mechanical weathering includes all processes that simply "break big pieces into little pieces." This can happen from nature, or from being hit with with an object like a hammer or tractor.
One of the main processes of mechanical weathering in nature is the freeze-thaw cycle (FTC), which is a recurring pattern of air temperatures dropping below freezing and then rising above freezing. FTCs can occur at any time of year, but are most common in the winter
In winter water will enter these cracks, freeze, and expand. When this happens repeatedly over time, the cracks widen so much that they eventually shatter.
These Cracks could be from defects in the stone, but many can be created from temperature stresses over time. You see, prolonged exposure to harsh sunlight, especially an outdoor application like this one here in Hagerstown, may contribute to a subtle changes and cracks in appearance over an extended period. That is because granite is especially good at holding heat. These stones can reach temperatures more than 40 degrees higher than the surrounding air on a sunny day, and the darker the stone, the hotter it gets. Stone expands when it gets hot, and contracts as it gets cold. If the temperature changes rapidly in either way, cracking can occur. Knowing that granite comes from molten magma that’s 1,000 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit you would think that it is resistant to being out in the sun.
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. Describe how Mechanical Weathering is affecting the Cost Memorial?
QUESTION 2. The face of the monument with the writing faces West. What side has the most damage from freeze thaw?
QUESTION 3. Why do you think that side of the memorial has significantly more damage?
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. In Maryland and the Virginians, The Baltimore Sun, August 19, 1913, Page 6, Newspaper, newspapers.com
2. Erect Memorial to Poultry Man, Public Opinion, October 7, 1913, Page 1, Newspaper, newspapers.com
3. The Great Hagerstown Fair, Historic Marker Database, website, hmdb.org