This Cotton Gin sculpture has been moved inside the Hutto City Hall. Hours are from 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. The coordinates will get you to the front of City Hall--then go inside to find the sculpture. Ignore the Hippo statute outside.
Hutto, Texas, has a two-ton sculpture carved from a solid block of Lueders limestone that is inspired by the city's historic cotton gin.
Lueders limestone is approximately 283 to 290 million years old and belongs to the Early Permian Period. It is primarily composed of calcite (calcium carbonate), formed from millions of years of compacted sediment layers under ancient seas. The limestone naturally contains marine microfossils.
Common fossils found in the Lueders Formation are:
- Pelecypods (clams and oysters): Such as Myalinas, Trigonia, and Protocardia.
- Gastropods (snails).
- Foraminifera and Ostracodes: Microfossils make up a significant portion of the rock matrix.
- Bryozoans.
- Burrows: Trace fossils indicating the presence of ancient burrowing organisms.
- Brachiopods and Crinoids: Other common types of marine shell and skeletal debris found in general limestone formations.
Lueders limestone is technically classified as a fine-grained sedimentary rock. This categorization is based on its smooth, uniform texture and lack of large visible crystalline structures.
Comparative Overview of Texas Limestone
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Characteristics
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Lueders Limestone
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Austin/ Georgetown Limestone
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Stone City/Local Varieties
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Density
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High/Medium density
Hard and Compact
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Softer more porous
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Variable
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Strength
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6,000 - 7,000 PSI
Among hardest in TX
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2,500 - 4,000 PSI
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Moderate strength, Suitable for veneers
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Color
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Broad range -
Charcoal/Dove Gray
Buff, Tan, Caramel
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Primarily white, cream, or yellowish
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Often with warmer earth tones like chocolate and tan
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Texture
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Smooth surface
No visible grains
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Chalky, Visible fossils
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Vary from smooth to "rough-back"
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To log this Earthcache, email we with the answers to the following:
1. Based on its composition, in what type of environment did the Lueders Formation most likely form?
2. Why is Lueders limestone commonly used as a building material in Texas?
3. What evidence of ancient marine life is visible? If so, what is it?
4. Optional: Post a picture of yourself at this location. No spoiler pictures !