C&O National Historical Park Celebrates Earth Science Week

The beginning of Earth Science Week was celebrated by C&O National Historical Park with “Autumn Rocks!” Sunday. Park visitors were given the opportunity by this program to explore the “geology and geography of the canal” as a kickoff program for Earth Science Week. Park Ranger Geoff Sutter, said, "This is our first Autumn Rocks program. We are mainly a history park but [much] of that is related to geology including the buildings and many of the locks."

According to www.connectionnewspspers.com, "Most of the activities set up for visitors were self-activated. They included a soil science table where visitors could take ingredients, sand, clay, compost, and rocks and make their own soil, then test it for different characteristics, and a Rock Identification Station with tests to help neophytes identify different types of rocks. Blacksmith Eric Johnson and apprentice Josiah Bloom demonstrated the art of blacksmithing. They were making an axe head for a hatchet. They also told about coal, which they were using for their fire, and how it is formed over hundreds of years." Two types of coal were on display at the exhibit. Soft coal which turns into coke when it burns, and anthracite, the hardest coal, most desirable for hot fire. As per www.connectionnewspapers.com, "Another highlight of the day was a guided hike to an abandoned gold mine in the park led by Jessica Lindsay, a geoscientist in the park. The mine, she said, hasn’t been in operation for about 70 years. “There were about 30 gold mines in Montgomery County, some more successful than others,” she said. “Most of the successful ones were in the Great Falls area.” Earth Science Week was Oct. 13-19 celebrating the theme "Geoscience is for Everyone," according to the National Park Service."

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