This site appears to be abandoned. Tire tracks in "green" clay like
soil imply some activity by somebody recently. Explore in a
thoughtful respectful manner. If someone finds another way to the
pit please post it.
Look at
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=39.98278&lon=-74.71611 for
more detail. You may be more comfortable taking your picture from
the road, just include the lake.
Marl may be divided into two varieties shell-marl and
earth-marl. Shell-marl is composed of animal shells dissolved;
earth-marl is also fossil. The color of the latter is various, its
hardness being sometimes soft and ductile, like clay; sometimes
hard and solid, like stone; and sometimes it is extended into thin
beds, like slate. Shellmarl is easily distinguished by the shells,
which always appear in it; but the similarity between earth-marl
and many other fossil substances, renders it difficult to
distinguish them. Shell-marl is very different in its nature from
clayey and stone marls, and, from its effects upon the soil, is
commonly classed among the animal manures: it does not dissolve
with water as the other marls do. It sucks it up, and swells with
it like a sponge. But the greatest difference betwixt the
shell-marl and the other marls consists in this, the shell-marl
contains oils. This marl, it would seem from the qualities which it
possesses, promotes vegetation in all the different ways. It
increases the food of plants; it communicates to the soil a power
of attracting this food from the air; it enlarges the pasture of
plants; and it prepares the vegetable food for entering their
roots.
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marl
To claim this earthcache email the cache owner the location of
another location wher marl can be found, and upload a photograph of
you or your group at the the "out cropping" aka the brick steps
going up BEFORE you trespass. This will give a good view, should
you climb them. The pit is full of water the edges are steep,
slippery, and could be dangerous. Be cool, be safe.
Terrain rating goes to 3 if you climb the steps, goes to 5 if
you try to walk close to the pit and trespass.
The following obit is from the local paper for Nov 1860. This is
from the NJ Mirror. Thought you might find it interesting.
Headline: Local Facts and Fancies. / THE ACCIDENT AT THE MARL PITS.
Date: November 29, 1860 Summary: The accident mentioned in our last
paper, as having occurred at Gaskill's Marl Pits, in Pemberton
Township, terminated fatally to Mr. John Troth. Mr. Troth resided
about three miles from Mount Holly, on the Burlington road, and
went to the pits for marl, on Tuesday morning(presumably a
reference to November 20, 1860), reaching there about 9 o'clock. He
was anxious to obtain his load as quickly as possible, and going
into one of the pits with Mr. Gaskill's son, they commenced
digging, when an overhanging mass of marl caved in upon them. Mr.
Troth was almost entirely embedded in it, and when taken out, was
found to be severely injured. All possible assistance was rendered
him, but of no avail. He lingered until about 5 o'clock, the same
day, when death relieved him of his sufferings.--His wife and
mother reached him a short time before he expired. He was about 35
years of age, a most estimable man, and held in the highest respect
by all who knew him. Mr. Gaskill's son had his leg broken and was
otherwise injured, but we understand that he is in a fair way of
recovery. (Thanks to Lee for sending me the above article) John
Trimble Troth (above) is the husband of Elizabeth Taylor
Lippincott, Bill of the LowellHouseGang's, 5th cousin 3 times
removed .