Ashover Rock EarthCache
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This is the large rock that surmounts the area known as 'The Faebric' or Fabrick
This rocky outcrop is just outside Ashover village, near the east side of the Peak District, between Matlock and Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England. Ashover Village is situated at the end of the Old Ash Forest and was known in Saxon times as Essovere. Which was noted in the first Taxation survey of England which was made by King Arthur in 893.
This rocky outcrop is just outside Ashover village. The area was owned privately until 2006 by the Bassett Sisters but they donated it to Derbyshire County Council as a public open space They have given permission to allow this area to be an Earthcache.
The rocky outcrop (the cliff itself NOT the actual Rock at the top) is of Volcanic origin and is terminus the Derbyshire Dome (the nearest we got to having a Volcano in Derbyshire) of which this area is the Eastern limits. There are lots of Brecciated areas within the base rocks although none carry Gem stones unlike further in the Peak District. It is thought by different scientists that there are two possible areas for the formation of the original magma these being the Upper Mantle and the Lower Mantle, although the particle size of the Breccia lead most to think it was the upper mantle. Brecciated rock formed by volcanic activity is called Pyroclastic Breccia which is a conglomeration of bits of stone all encased in other material from the eruption (lava flow), there are other types of Breccia but none are found here although a type caused by the collapse of the magna vault is found further into the Peak District near Castleton. The rocks do contain minute amounts of minerals which is why the area is littered with quarries not just for the limestone that abounds here although surprisingly Ashoverite (a Zinc Hydroxide crystal) is not found on this side of the valley but on the Western side almost opposite the Rock. At 299m above sea level, the Faebric (Fabrick) is the highest point in the area and, as the panorama from the top shows, the views are stunning. The area has a cliff face at the highest part of a deep narrow valley (although there has been some quarrying of the Ashover Gritstone).
In the years that have gone by it was popular with CB radio users who took advantage of the height to chat to the world including the USA, Australia and Europe to name some places – They called it “the Pimple in the Sky”. Which is why The Royal Observer Corps had a bunker (well it’s still there) it was established in 1938 as a listening post which closed in 1991.
In the past ordinary folk had thought that the area of the Peak District of which we are at it's very South Eastern Limit was gouged out by the last Ice Age but Geological science has shown that is is volcanic in origin as stated above.
On a clear day the views extend over Chesterfield to the suburbs of Sheffield as well as into the counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. It is easy to see the power stations at Ratcliffe Soar almost 24 miles away West Burton almost 30 miles away High Marnham almost 28 miles The towers of Drax in North Yorkshire can also be seen In the right conditions, it is possible to see Lincoln Cathedral from the top of Ashover Rock. There is a Toposcope at the top of the hill near the Trig point that helps identify these places. To get to the Rock The village of Ashover, locally pronounced Ash'er, is situated in a deep narrow valley, 19 miles N.W. from Derby, 7 from Alfreton, the same from Chesterfield, and 3½ miles from Stretton, the nearest railway station is either Chesterfield or Alfreton. There is a footpath from the Village Hall to the area or you can park your car by the road on the east side in a small layby.
To log this cache to need to find:
1/ What Rock is the Boulder made from and how do you think it arrived in its location?
2/ What is the main type of rock is found in the quarried area and why does it appear here?
3/ What do you think is the reason for the land formation being so high (without the Main rock)?
4/ Where do you think the Magma that forms the Fold of this side of the valley came from ?
5/ Which local village is the quarry in that produces Ashoverite?
Optional post a photo of you at the Rock
Congratulations to Jordpears for FTF an EXCELLENT and detailed set of Answers
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)