Near the western edge of Crickhowell there is a disused drinking fountain formed of three different rock types. Its dedication says:
REST AND REFRESH
This drinking fountain has been erected in loving memory of Henry Bailey Bevan who died May 4th 1891
There is no physical geocache here: this is an EarthCache so in order to log a Find you need to read the lesson on rock types (below) and then send me answers to the questions that follow. Answers can be sent either through the Geocaching app messaging facility, or by email (linked from my Profile).
Lesson on rock types:
The three major rock types are IGNEOUS, SEDIMENTARY and METAMORPHIC. The geology of the landscape around GZ is entirely Sedimentary, as is the case throughout the whole of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
IGNEOUS rocks are formed when hot, molten rock crystalises, either at volcanoes on the surface of the Earth or while the molten rock is still within the Earth's crust. Igneous rocks formed on the Earth's surface are termed extrusive, and are composed of small crystals that are hard to detect without a microscope or can even be glassy and non-crystaline. Igneous rocks formed within the Earth's crust are termed intrusive, and have larger crystals that are usually visible to the naked eye.
SEDIMENTARY rocks are formed on the surface of the Earth through the laying down of sediment over a long period of time. Some are formed of grains of eroded rock and are termed clastic: they include sandstones, siltstones, shales, conglomerates and breccias. Some are formed of minerals that precipitate out of a solution in water and are termed chemical: they include limestones, dolomite and chert. The rest are formed by the accumulation of plant or animal remains and are termed organic: they include coal and chalk.
METAMORPHIC rocks are formed from sedimentary, igneous or other metamorphic rocks that have been subject to high temperatures and often intense pressures. Some metamorphic rocks have minerals aligned in layers or bands and are named foliated, for example slate, schist and gneiss. Other metamorphic rocks lack layers or bands, and are termed non-foliated, including marble and quartzite. Marble is formed through the metamorphosis of limestone or dolomite, and can be almost pure white or may be coloured depending on impurities in the original rock before the metamorphosis took place.
Questions:
1) Is the plaque above/behind the basin formed of grains or crystals, are they large (visible to the naked eye) or small, is there any visible bedding/banding, and what colours are represented?
2) Is the plaque made of igneous (extrusive or intrusive), sedimentary (clastic, chemical or organic) or metamorphic (foliated or non-foliate) rock?
3) Is the basin of the water fountain formed of grains or crystals, are they large (visible to the naked eye) or small, is there any visible bedding/banding, and what colours are represented?
4) Is the basin made of igneous (extrusive or intrusive), sedimentary (clastic, chemical or organic) or metamorphic (foliated or non-foliate) rock?
5) Are the stones of the back wall supporting the plaque and basin formed of grains or crystals, are they large (visible to the naked eye) or small, is there any visible bedding/banding, and what colours are represented?
6) Is the back wall made of igneous (extrusive or intrusive), sedimentary (clastic, chemical or organic) or metamorphic (foliated or non-foliate) rock?
7) Optional, but please answer this to prove that you have actually visited... How many cross-beams are there within the drinking fountain's shelter, and how many of those cross-beams have infills?