Limestone (calcium carbonate CaCO3) is a sedimentary rock composed of the accumulation of fragments of deceased marine organisms. In the 18th and 19th century after the raw lime rock was refined in kilns it was mixed with sand and water and used primarily for mortar and plaster in home construction. Today lime is found in glass, plastics, paper, paints, caulks, resins, pharmaceuticals, and a multitude of other products.
Given the proximity to the ocean it isn't surprising that deposits are abundant in this area. Lime was once a major contributor to the local economy. The first lime kiln was built in Thomaston in 1733 by Samuel Waldo. By 1828 Rockland and Thomaston were home to more than 30 wharves and 160 lime kilns. One hundred fifty schooners were transporting 1.5 million casks of lime a year. New Orleans or the West Indies were the destination for 7/8ths of the lime that was exported out of State. During the Civil war Confederate raiders of the high seas proved to be a threat to the ships carrying the valuable cargo. The Barkantine, Ocean Eagle was seized by the Rebel pirates for the lime it was carrying. Early in the history of mining lime in Rockland after having been removed from the quarries the rock was transported down Rankin, Park Street or Lime Rock Road by wagon but in the early 1900s the Limerock Railway consisting of 4 engines, a caboose, 4 flat cars and 500 small dumping carts mechanized the process of moving the rock to the kilns. By 1892 the Limerock RR serviced 39 kilns along its 3 mile length. Not only did the lime industry provide jobs to the miners and those managing the kilns but also supported barrel and cask making , as well as stone crushing and ship building.
At the published coordinates you will be able to view the abandoned lime quarries. Before logging please send an e-mail through my profile with the answers to the following questions. What direction are the excavations for the mine workings? What direction do the deposits of lime run? What conclusion can you draw from this?
I've decided to add an Honor Roll for those who got the point of the cache and not just another smiley to their profile.
MoxieH
anniebananie
MrCacheup
nukeworker and Racquetball Girl
swelgus
Alamogul
groovyc&s
SweetSuzie558
djkfisher
LouiseBear
And now there is a High Honor Roll (even if it isn't about the numbers grades still count). :-)
Moonfox
J5 Crew
wilsonjw