The coordinates will take you to a statue of Archibald Hood.
There are a set of steep steps to get to the statue.
Tasks
1 - At the posted coordinates, take a look at the plinth that the statue stands on. Describe the stone taking particular interst in the colour and texture.
2 - Using the information in the text below, what type of rock do you think this is?
3 - Using your answer in question 2, is the rock igneous, sedimaentary or metamorphic?
4 - Why do you think this stone was chosen for the plinth?
5 - Observe the plinth and using the information in the text, what type of weathering can you see and what evidence is there of this?
6 - Optional task - I would to see your photos in your logs, but please do not reveal any of the answers.
Pleasesend you answers via the message centre or email. Please do not include any answers in your log.
History
Archibald Hood (June 1823 – 27 October 1902) was a Scottish engineer and coalowner who became an important figure in the industrial growth of the Rhondda Valley. The son of a colliery official, Hood would make his name as a coalowner of collieries first in Scotland and later in Llwynypia in South Wales.
Archibald Hood not only improved the mines in his ownership, he also made provision to improve the living conditions for his workers. He built houses for his workers and their families, and ensured that each house had a garden to provide a small holding.
When he died, due to the high esteem in which he was held, his workers decided to fund a memorial in his honour. The miners contributed to a statue to be built, amassing over £600 for its construction. The 7ft6inch bronze statue was erected on the grounds of Llwynypia Library, pointing towards his colliery and was unveiled in July 1906 by William Abraham. It was the first public statue in the Rhondda.
Examples of rocks and their features
-
Granite – An igneous rock that forms deep underground when magma cools slowly. It has large, visible crystals and is usually light-colored, such as gray, white, pink, or black speckled. Granite is very hard and commonly used in buildings and countertops.
-
Basalt – An igneous rock formed when lava cools quickly at Earth’s surface. It is typically dark gray or black and fine-grained. Basalt makes up much of the ocean floor and is often used in road construction.
-
Sandstone – A sedimentary rock made from sand grains cemented together over time. It often forms in layers and is usually tan, brown, red, yellow, or gray. Sandstone has a rough texture and forms in deserts, beaches, and riverbeds.
-
Limestone – A sedimentary rock formed from shells of marine organisms or minerals in water. It is usually white, light gray, or cream-colored and may contain fossils. Limestone is commonly used to make cement and building stone.
-
Marble – A metamorphic rock formed when limestone is changed by heat and pressure. Marble is often white, but it can also be gray, pink, green, or black due to impurities. It has a smooth texture and is used in statues and decorative stone.
-
Slate – A metamorphic rock formed from shale. It is usually dark gray, black, green, or purple and splits into thin, flat sheets. Slate is commonly used for roofing tiles and flooring.
Types of rocks and how they are formed
There are 3 types of rock - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.
Igneous rock is a type of rock that forms when melted rock material (magma or lava) cools and solidifies. Igneous rocks are usually hard, strong, and resistant to erosion, and they are important because they make up much of Earth’s crust and mantle.
Sedimentary rock is a type of rock that forms from the accumulation and cementing of sediments over time. These sediments can be small pieces of rock, minerals, or the remains of plants and animals. Sedimentary rocks usually form in layers as sediments are deposited by water, wind, ice, or gravity and then pressed together over millions of years. Sedimentary rocks are important because they often contain fossils and provide information about Earth’s past environments.
Metamorphic rock is a type of rock that forms when existing rocks are changed by heat, pressure, and sometimes chemicals deep inside Earth. The word metamorphic means “changed form.” These rocks do not melt. Instead, the intense heat and pressure cause the minerals in the rock to rearrange and form new textures and patterns.
Types of weathering
Weathering is the process that breaks down rocks at Earth’s surface over time. There are three main types of weathering: physical, chemical, and biological.
Physical (mechanical) weathering breaks rock into smaller pieces without changing its composition. It causes features such as cracks, angular fragments, and broken rock surfaces. A common process is freeze–thaw weathering, where water freezes in cracks, expands, and eventually splits the rock.
Chemical weathering changes the minerals within a rock through reactions with water, oxygen, or weak acids. This type of weathering can cause rocks to become softer, discolored, or rounded as minerals dissolve or alter.
Biological weathering is caused by living organisms. Plant roots can widen cracks, animals can loosen rock, and microorganisms can produce acids. This leads to features such as widened joints, broken rock edges, and surface pitting.