Welcome to Seymour Veterans Memorial!
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Located in Seymour, Indiana, Gaiser Park is home to the Jackson County Veterans Memorial, a tribute to the men and women of Jackson County who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The design of the memorial makes use of two contrasting types of granite: a light gray granite for the foundation and vertical pillars, and a dark black granite for the engraved image panels. Though they share the same general classification as granite, these stones formed under different geological conditions and reveal fascinating differences in mineral composition, appearance, and how they weather over time.
Black Granite (Engraved Panels)
The dark, polished panels that display the engraved artwork and text are made of black granite, though geologically this material often aligns more closely with gabbro or diabase. These rocks form deep underground when molten magma cools slowly, allowing large mineral crystals to grow.
Black granite typically contains minerals such as plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, and biotite, which are rich in iron and magnesium, known as mafic minerals. These minerals give the rock its dark color and dense texture. When polished, the stone becomes highly reflective, providing an ideal surface for detailed engravings and images.
White Granite (Base and Pillars)
The lighter-colored granite used for the base and center pillars formed in a similar way, deep underground from cooling magma, but contains more felsic minerals, such as quartz and potassium feldspar. These minerals are high in silica and aluminum, giving the rock its light gray or white color with visible flecks of crystal.
This “white granite” has a classic salt-and-pepper appearance, showing the interlocking structure of its mineral grains. It is widely used in architecture and monuments for its strength, beauty, and resistance to weathering.
Comparing How They Weather
While both stones are strong and long-lasting, they weather differently due to their mineral makeup:
- Black granite contains more iron-bearing minerals, which can oxidize over time, producing faint rust-like discolorations or dulling of the surface.
- White granite, richer in quartz, is generally more resistant to chemical weathering, but may experience granular disintegration, where small crystals loosen and flake off the surface after many freeze-thaw cycles.
Over decades of exposure to wind, rain, and temperature changes, these differences become more visible, especially on unpolished surfaces or areas exposed to moisture.
Common Weathering Processes That Affect Granite
1. Mechanical Weathering:
- Frost Wedging: Water freezes in cracks, expands, and widens them.
- Abrasion: Wind or sand slowly wears away the surface.
2. Chemical Weathering:
- Oxidation: Iron-rich minerals react with oxygen, forming reddish stains.
- Hydrolysis: Feldspar reacts with water, forming clay and weakening the stone.
- Acid Rain: Acids in rainfall dissolve minerals, dulling polished surfaces.
3. Biological Weathering:
- Roots or Moss: Can grow into cracks and secrete acids that break down minerals.
4. Thermal Expansion:
- Repeated heating and cooling can cause expansion and contraction, forming flakes or cracks.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
Please complete the tasks and questions below, and send me your answers
1) Compare the Stones: Look closely at the dark upper panels and the light gray granite base or pillars. What visual differences do you notice (color, shine, grain size, mineral composition)?
2) Signs of Weathering: Observe both the dark and light granite surfaces. Do you notice any stains, pitting, fading, or roughness? Which stone appears to be weathering faster, and why do you think that might be?
3) Take a photo of yourself (or personal item) with the memorial. You can attach it to your found it log (optional).