There is quite a history in this area as it is along side the historic I&M Canal. This particular area is in the direct vicinity to dolomite limestone quarries along the I&M Canal in Lemont. This area was once a shanty camp for the immigrant miners. It is between the ship canal and the I&M Canal so there is also alot of spoil from digging them both and also a lot of strange odds and ends. My firepit rock is actually a mile long berm of this. Directly behind the firepit about 100 yards is the ship canal. Of my many interests, exploring these areas is my favorite! I spend a lot of time around the canals from Willow Springs on out to Joliet.
Here's a link to the Lemont area's history > http://township.com/lemont/historical/PixPages/Quarries/Quarry1.htm
Some other pictures of things around Lemont including whats left of a structure on the Briers Quarry area along Bluff Rd.
What do you make of this first picture? We discussed this here a while back and it does appear it could be the work of an old way to split quarried rock but the impression follows precisely bumps and valleys in the rock such as a wet noodle layed accross a bumpy surface. I had a photo shot closeup in macro and accross the surface that showed this but I deleted the photo. The far left side of the impression falls off and drops about 1" and twists slightly.
A fossil expert from the area, who the historical society directed me, says it is indeed a fossil impression. Here is his response to my forwarded email:
The fossil is a cephalopod impression. A cephalopod is a head-footed animal that lived in the warm seas covering this area during the silurian period ( 400 to 450 million years ago).
It lived in one section until it outgrew it then added another section and so on. Extending from the shell was the head and tentacles, and a breathing tube called a syphuncle. Belonging to the same group of animals are the octopus and squid. The material from the seas decaying matter eventually compressed over time and formed the limestone which encases the remains of the creatures that lived in the shallow sea. Hope this helps.
Text on sign near where this was found:
"From this overlook, you can see a story in the landscape. It begins 400 million years ago when shallow seas covered this area. The remains of sea creatures form the dolomitic limestone bedrock, which can be seen in nearby outcroppings and quarry sites.
The ground you are standing on and the hills across the valley were formed 13,000 years ago when rocks and clay were deposited by the Wisconsin Glacier. Meltwater from the glacier carved out this valley and exposed the limestone bedrock.
During the 1800s, limestone from quarries in the area was used to build the Chicago Water Tower and many buildings in Lemont. Visitors to the abandoned quarry site can find fossils that are three times older than dinosaurs."
These next three (Briers Quarry area) are the smokestack and foundation below Bluff Road near the new bridge
In the summer, you can't see any of this as it is buried in growth. 1/8 mile from the smokestack.
Here's another example of this building technique on the former Nonesuch Mine site in the Porcupine Mtns in the UP. Different stone, same era, same basic construction.
Car found in the woods by my spot (oddly, no car salesman instantly stalked me to ask "What will it take to get you in this gem today?!!)
Outstanding area!! I love the old ruins out there and would love to tour the area with you one day. The fossil expert is right as it does look like a cephalopod, but in this case I am no expert at all. There is an old joke that is somewhat true. Archaeologists only deal with thousands of years and geologists deal with millions/billions. Again, it is a joke as there are paleo-archaeologists out there as well.
I would love to also discuss any history I can and learn from you as well. PM your email and we can go from there. You can view quite a bit of Native American history in the lithics and pottery that I have personally found in and around Chicago. It is on display at the Eisenhower Library in Harwood Heights, for this month only.
Thanks!!
Dan
