📝 Logging Tasks
To log this EarthCache, visit the listed coordinates and answer the following based on your **direct observations**:
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**1. Stone Observation Challenge:**
Look closely at the Abbey’s exterior walls and select **three different stones that appear visually distinct**. For each stone:
- a) Where on the wall is it? (e.g. arch, tower base, near entrance)
- b) What colour is it?
- c) What does it feel like? (e.g. rough, chalky, smooth, grainy)
- d) Describe one feature you observe (e.g. cracks, shell fragment, shiny patch, grainy layers)
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**2. How It Formed:**
Pick one of the three stones from question 1. Based on what you observed, where do you think it formed?
- a) In a sandy riverbed or desert
- b) In a shallow sea full of shells
- c) From minerals filling cracks or gaps in another rock
Explain how your observations led you to that conclusion.
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**3. Signs of Weathering:**
Find a part of the Abbey’s exterior that shows signs of weathering.
- a) What can you see? (e.g. flaking, moss, black crust, softened edges)
- b) What type of weathering do you think it is—**physical**, **chemical**, or **biological**—and why?
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**4. Optional Photo Task:**
Take a photo of one section of the Abbey walls showing stonework. Include your GPS, caching name or a personal item. (Please avoid spoilers or close-ups that reveal specific answers.)
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Reminder:
You **do not** need to name any rocks or know geology terms. Your answers should be based only on what you observe at the site.
📚 Earth Science Lesson: Learning to Read the Stonework
Wymondham Abbey is more than a place of worship—it’s a window into deep geological time. Its walls are constructed from a mix of building stones, each formed under unique conditions over millions of years. By observing the shape, colour, texture, and condition of these stones, we can learn how they formed and how they’ve withstood the forces of weathering.
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🧱 What To Look For in a Building Stone
You don’t need to know the name of any rocks—just use your senses to describe what you see and feel. Look for:
- **Colour** – Orange tones often suggest iron; white or beige hints at marine origins.
- **Texture** – Smooth, chalky, glassy, rough or gritty to the touch.
- **Grains & Fossils** – Are there visible sand grains, layers, shell fragments or shiny surfaces?
- **Hardness** – Does it feel fragile or tough? Are edges crumbling or sharp?
- **Weathering** – Cracks, moss, dark streaks, or flaking surfaces.
These clues can tell us about the stone’s origin: whether it formed in seas, rivers, or from mineral replacement—and how it has reacted to centuries of exposure.
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🔬 Spotting Weathering
All stones break down over time. At Wymondham Abbey, you might see:
- **Physical weathering** – cracking, chipping or flaking.
- **Chemical weathering** – dark streaks, pitting or softened edges (especially on limestone).
- **Biological weathering** – moss, lichen or roots creeping through mortar and cracks.