Excercise 4

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Central Piedmont Community College *

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101

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Geology

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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Jana Jackson Activity 4.13 (a) Just for fun (and without Googling), how many of the objects from the figure above can you identify? Figure 4.20a: i. Great Sphinx, ii Not sure, iii Empire State Building Figure 4.20b: i Not sure, ii Statue of Moses, iii Washington Monument Figure 4.20c: i Mount Rushmore, ii Not sure, iii Not sure (b) Granite has been used throughout the ages for buildings (Figure 4.20c ii). What properties do you think make granite useful for construction? - Properties that I believe make granite useful for construction are their heat resistance, durability and strength. (c) Marble (Figure 4.20b, ii) and alabaster (Figure 4.20a, ii), have physical properties much the same as those of the minerals of which they are made: calcite and gypsum, respectively. Which of these properties have made these rocks favorites of sculptors for centuries? Explain your reasoning. - In my opinion, properties that have made these rocks favorite of sculptors for centuries are their smooth textures and low hardness. With properties such as low hardness, it makes it easier to carve these sculptures, especially ones with detail. In addition, with a smooth texture, sculptors are able to have a more polished finish. (d) Some sculptures, however, are made of igneous rock, like the granite in Figure 4.20c, i and iii. Granite is made mostly of quartz, potassium feldspar, and plagioclase feldspar. How do the minerals in granite affect the ease with which sculptors can shape the stone? - Minerals such as quartz are high in hardness, resulting in more difficulty to carve in comparison to other (softer) minerals. Both potassium feldspar and plagioclase feldspar are also hard minerals, with inconsistencies in texture. These minerals in granite can affect the ease with which sculptors can shape the stone being that they aren’t as manageable. What do you think? A veterans’ group has contacted you about the best stone to use for memorials honoring the men and women who have served our country. They want to use local stone whenever possible, and they have found nearby sources of marble and granite. Assuming that the memorials will be built near your institution, what factors should you consider before making a recommendation? (Consider the ease of carving and polishing, the response of the

minerals to weathering, etc.) What factors would you consider if you lived in a very wet and humid climate? What factors would you consider if you lived in a hot and arid climate? ( Hint 1: Consider the diagnostic qualities of the minerals composing each rock. Hint 2: The kind of acid that impacts certain minerals can form in the atmosphere when carbon dioxide mixes with water) In this instance, some of the factors that I would consider before making a recommendation include climate and availability. But being that nearby sources have both marble and granite, I would focus more on aspects of weather resistance and manageability for carving purposes. If we lived in a hot and arid climate, I would recommend that either marble or granite could be used. But if we lived in a more humid climate, I would recommend using granite. Assuming that this would be near Wingate University, I would recommend using granite being that North Carolina’s weather is unpredictable. This would ensure that the stone would be able to last in any weather condition. The only downfall to the choice would be that it may not be as easy to carve. But, I would recommend granite for durability purposes.

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