When I look at a trail map, it makes perfect sense. I pick my route, off I go, and after a while I realize that, yep, I've screwed up again. AFTER I've gotten waylaid on some side trail, I can look at the trail map and see exactly where I've gone wrong (the "d'oh!" moment), but somehow I seem unable to learn my lesson and READ THE DAMN MAP RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.
So! When I start walking at a new place, I try to get a general feel for trail locations, because God knows the maps aren't gonna help me.
There is a cool rock at Salt Springs. Over the years, people have stuck pennies into it. My sister-in-law, who is in her sixties and grew up near Salt Springs Park, says she remembers sticking pennies into it when she was a little girl. But the funny thing is, the pennies are melting.
I don't know if you can tell by the picture above, but the pennies are slumped over. Pretty cool.
6 comments:
Why are they doing that, I wonder? There must be some sort of chemical reaction going on that's using the copper out of the penny and leaving the softer zinc, but I'll have to look up what that is. Any idea what kind of rock that is -- is it limestone?
Ok, here's what I think is going on. After 1983, we switched to a higher percentage of zinc in pennies and so the one's that would be out to slump are probably less than 25 years old. The easy way to separate copper from zinc is hydrochloric acid -- which also erodes limestone. Acid rain, which is a weak solution of HCL and water, eats away at the limestone and also schlumps out the pennies at the same time.
Very interesting. Scary, but interesting.
oo that's so interesting! anyway, thanks for dropping by and your wishes!
Bridgett, thanks for the info!
And Letti, you're welcome!
It occurs to me that I am a total geek.
I'm a geek, too! Let's wave the geek flag proudly. :)
Post a Comment