The Smallest State’s Biggest SecretThough Rhode Island is known to most as the smallest state
The Smallest State’s Biggest SecretThough Rhode Island is known to most as the smallest state in the US, its narrow borders contain a very unique secret. Cumberlandite is an extremely rare rock found only in 16,000m2 (4 acres) of land in Rhode Island, USA, specifically on Iron Mine Hill, Cumberland, 02864.This igneous rock formed millions of years ago when a volcano spewed its lava, comprised of 24 different minerals mixed with molten rock. It then cooled, forming a brownish-black, iron-rich, magnetic rock with white crystals. Cumberlandite was deemed sacred by the Nipmuck tribe and used by settlers to make cannons, weapons, and tools leading up to the Revolutionary War. It was originally named Rhodose because it was thought to only be found in the state of Rhode Island, but after a few geological surveys showing that it was found only in Cumberland it was renamed Cumberlandite.Although the source of the rock is in Cumberland, glacial deposits of Cumberlandite can be found miles away, south of the state, off the shore of Narragansett. When people find these fragments, they commonly mistake the rocks for meteorites due to their high density and unusual appearance.Sadly, most of Iron Mine Hill has been quarried over the years for road metal. Looking around the surrounding area, other evidence of cumberlandite’s use can be found - headstones in a nearby cemetery, fenceposts, and even old scrap metal that was used during the mining and drilling days. The site is now owned by the Town of Cumberland and is designated a open space area. In 1966 Rhode Island named Cumberlandite its official state rock.~ SWMore Info:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC51DR2_only-in-rhode-islandhttp://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1295/report.pdfPhoto Credit: http://bit.ly/1xJ8Vq8 -- source link
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