Fieldtrips

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Southern Maryland Rock and Mineral Club Field Trip

Combined trip with the Lynchburg and Roanoke Clubs

Vulcan Manassas Quarry on Saturday October 17^th from 7:30 a.m. – noon

The Lynchburg / Roanoke field trip leader for this trip will be John Hatcher

Meeting Time --- Meet at the Quarry Office parking lot at 7:30 a.m. (no later!!) for Safety Briefing and signing waiver forms

Trip Leader --- Dave Lines

Location --- Vulcan Materials at the Manassas Quarry, Manassas, VA (8537 Vulcan Lane, Manassas, VA 20109)

Directions --- From D.C. and Maryland area, take Washington Beltway (I-495) to I-66 (west) to Manassas Exit 44. Go south on Rt 234 (Bypass) for 3.3 miles. Turn Left on Wellington Rd. (at light) --- go ½ mile and turn left on Vulcan Road. Cross railroad tracks and take immediate right into office parking lot.

Safety --- Vulcan requires steel-toed boots, hardhat, safety glasses, long pants and heavy gloves. Stay clear of all high walls. Note to Experienced members --- please keep a watch on all of us and say something to those who may not recognize danger before they get into trouble.

What to Collect --- Prehnite, datolite, byssolite, pyrite, pectolite, apophyllite, other zeolites. Good micros.

Equipment/ clothing --- Full safety gear --- steel toed shoes/boots, safety glasses, hardhat, work gloves --- rock hammer, 3 - 4 pound crack hammer, chisels, 5 gal. bucket, old newspaper for wrapping specimens, small pry bar. Optional -- large sledge hammer, long pry bar, extra buckets. Your best tools are sharp eyes. Clothing depends on the weather --- coveralls recommended. Rain poncho nice to have.

Quarry Description / Hints --- Manassas Quarry is a trap rock quarry -- large square, deep hole in the ground with multiple levels. The predominate rock is dark gray diabase which is mined for crushed rock for road construction. Prehnite is the main thing we will try to find --- Hint: look for a white or light green streak of color in the gray rock and examine carefully. Breaking that rock open may reveal a pocket of light green prehnite. Prehnite is not abundant here, so it has been a hit or miss thing. On the other hand, we have always (Lord willin’) found some nice specimens of something to make the trip worth-while. Hint ---Carefully search and investigate anything that is different.

Vehicles --- We will be allowed to drive our vehicles into the quarry. The roads are generally good --- wide and relatively smooth --- but sometimes with water standing in pools on the lowest level. If it is wet and muddy, consider carpooling with someone who has a truck or SUV.

Misc. --- Drinking water, sunscreen, snacks, "Thank" the quarry rep.