This EarthCache takes you to Keld war memorial. Please be respectful, and take a bit if time to remember the sacrifice of those named.
BE CAREFUL, AS THE LOCATION IS AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
The men died in the Great War, two served in the Yorkshire Regiment, one in the Durham Light Infantry, and one in the Lincolnshire Regiment.
The geology of the local area is formed from limestone and sandstone, though the memorial is formed of a type of rock which is not local to the area. It is formed of marble.
🤔 What is marble?
Marble is a metamorphic rock resulting from the recrystallization of limestone. Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and/or aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Marble is composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.
🤔 What is metamorphism?
Heat and pressure over time caused the carbonate minerals to recrystallize into an interlocking mosaic of crystals, the different colours due to the various mineral impurities such as clay, silt and sand. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking mosaic of carbonate crystals. Primary sedimentary textures and structures of the original carbonate rock (protolith) have typically been modified or destroyed. Pure white marble is the result of metamorphism of a very pure (silicate-poor) limestone or dolomite protolith. The characteristic swirls and veins of many colored marble varieties are usually due to various mineral impurities such as clay, silt, sand, iron oxides, or chert which were originally present as grains or layers in the limestone. Green coloration is often due to serpentine resulting from originally high magnesium limestone or dolostone with silica impurities. These various impurities have been mobilized and recrystallized by the intense pressure and heat of the metamorphism. Metamorphic rock is the transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". The protolith is subjected to heat and pressure (temperatures greater than 150 to 200 °C and pressures of 1500 bars) causing profound physical and/or chemical change. The protolith may be sedimentary rock, igneous rock or another older metamorphic rock. Metamorphic rocks make up a large part of the Earth's crust and are classified by texture and by chemical and mineral assemblage (metamorphic facies). They may be formed simply by being deep beneath the Earth's surface, subjected to high temperatures and the great pressure of the rock layers above it. They can form from tectonic processes such as continental collisions, which cause horizontal pressure, friction and distortion. They are also formed when rock is heated up by the intrusion of hot molten rock called magma from the Earth's interior. The study of metamorphic rocks (now exposed at the Earth's surface following erosion and uplift) provides us with information about the temperatures and pressures that occur at great depths within the Earth's crust. Some examples of metamorphic rocks are gneiss, slate, marble, schist, and quartzite Because of its specific colours and textural variations, marble is highly valued as a decorative stone.
🤔 What causes different colours in marble?
⚪️ Serpentine.
This causes green colouring.
⚪️ Iron.
This causes red, brown, orange and yellow colouring.
⚪️ Graphite.
This can cause black or grey colouring.
This being an EarthCache, in order to log it, I ask that you complete the above tasks. Please send the answers to me, and do not include them in your log. You can send them to me by using the message facility or email, both of which can be found by looking at my profile.
1. Please describe the colour of the marble.
2. What has caused the colours?
3. What type of rock is marble?
4. What was the original prolith?
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Just-Us-Two know first at justustwo1013@gmail.com so they can keep track of the memorial numbers and names to avoid any duplication.