Welcome to Locust Grove Cemetery!
This Vault features sandstone from a local quarry, and is the focus of this EarthCache!
What is Sandstone?
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of sand-sized grains of minerals or rock fragments - usually quartz and feldspar, two of the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust. These grains began as particles eroded from older rocks, transported by wind, water, or ice, and deposited in layers in environments such as beaches, riverbeds, or deserts. Over time, as more material accumulated above, pressure compacted the grains and minerals like silica, calcite, or iron oxides cemented them together. This process, known as lithification, transformed loose sand into the solid rock we see today.
The color and composition of sandstone can reveal clues about its formation environment. Lighter-colored sandstone rich in quartz often forms in clean, well-sorted settings like beaches or dunes, while reddish or orange hues indicate the presence of iron oxides, which form in oxygen-rich, often terrestrial environments. Sandstone’s layered appearance, or bedding, records changes in deposition over time, much like pages in a history book.
Weathering
Although sandstone is relatively durable, it is not immune to the effects of weathering. Over time, exposure to water, temperature changes, and biological growth can gradually weaken the stone. Water that seeps into pores or cracks can cause mechanical weathering during freeze-thaw cycles. Chemical weathering, particularly from rainwater containing dissolved carbon dioxide, can slowly dissolve minerals within the stone. Biological factors such as lichen or moss growth may also contribute to surface pitting and discoloration. This vault offers an excellent opportunity to observe these processes in action.
Twinsburg Sandstone
The cemetery vault here in Twinsburg, Ohio, was constructed from locally quarried sandstone, a material that was widely used in the 19th century for building foundations, walls, and monuments. This sandstone was sourced from regional quarries in northeast Ohio, where deposits from ancient river systems and shallow seas once covered the land. These sediments were laid down hundreds of millions of years ago during the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian periods, when the area that would become Ohio lay near the equator.
If you look closely at the blocks of the vault, you can see the sandstone’s natural grain and texture. Some blocks may show faint bedding lines - the original layers of sediment preserved in stone. The tan and reddish tones suggest that the sediments were exposed to oxygen when they formed, while the presence of visible grains tells us that water currents likely carried the sand some distance before it settled. In this way, the vault serves not only as a historic structure but also as a window into Ohio’s ancient geologic past.
LOGGING TASKS
Please submit answers within seven days of your online log.
0) What is the name and GC Code of the EarthCache you are visiting? Investigating Sandstone at Locust Grove Cemetery - GCBF7YT
1a) Examine the sandstone blocks that make up the vault. Do you notice any signs of weathering?
1b) What type(s) of weathering are most visible (physical, chemical, or biological)?
2) Describe the color and texture of the blocks. Using what you've learned on the cache page, in what environment do you think this sandstone block formed?
3) Seeing as this vault has been standing for over a century, would you say sandstone is a durable building material? Why or why not?
4) REQUIRED - Take a photo of you (or a personal item) with the vault, and attach this photo to your log.