Science in Small Bites
Segment One: I found life in my driveway
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” ~ Carl Sagan
This segment of Science in Small Bites begins right here in Pocahontas County, at the Mill Point Quarry. When it comes to limestone and, to a lesser extent, dolomite, life begets life.
The limestone that built our roads, including the underlayment of our cherished Scenic Highway, came from the Mill Point Quarry. Likewise, agricultural limestone improves crops and browsing. Native brook trout in many of our mountain streams thrive in water treated with limestone to raise pH and neutralize acidity.
Limestone was created by ancient sea life, and now it helps to foster life in plants, mammals, fish, amphibians, birds and, ultimately, us – life from 400 million years ago nurtures life today.
The Mill Point limestone formed from the hardening of layer upon layer of calcium carbonate from coral, shells and other forms of sea life. This occurred during the Devonian period, about 420 to 360 million years ago, when vast, shallow tropical seas covered most of Earth. During this period, terrestrial areas began to green with the first plants and trees on Earth.
Five years ago, I bought a property on Caesar Mountain with a 600’ long deeded right-of-way leading back to my home. The driveway, as I found it, was more grass than stone. Unless I wanted a long, rutted, muddy driveway, I would have to get plenty of stone on the right-of-way.
Where to get that stone was obvious: the Mill Point quarry, which I can see from my kitchen window. They did an excellent job laying the stone – so well that it didn’t require any additional machinery – I was very impressed at the driver’s skill.
But what I did not know on that day in 2021 was that the load of stone contained fossils and semi-precious stones, a bonus, if you will. Over the last few years, I have kept my eyes peeled on my stone driveway, and it’s paid off; I now have a considerable collection of quartz crystals of all colors embedded in the grey limestone, as well as jasper and coral fossils. Additionally, you may find chert, flint, calcite, agate and chalcedony in crushed limestone.
So, now that you know there are gems and fossils in your unpaved driveway, give it a going over. Who knows, you may find an undamaged trilobite, which can fetch over $1,000 from collectors. If you do, thank the folks at the Mill Point Quarry.
A huge thanks to Howard Walker of Mill Point Quarry for his valuable input to this Science in Small Bites segment.
Segment Two: All hail the sun, but slap on the sunscreen
Due to a familial genetic trait, I know that I have a higher propensity for getting Melanoma than the average person. Knowing that fact has made me more vigilant. I am always suspicious of any skin lesion that remotely looks like it is changing shape or color.
There are several types of skin cancer. The most common is Basal Cell Carcinoma and constitutes nearly 80% of all skin cancer cases. This form of skin cancer is rarely fatal, but if not treated, it can damage nearby tissue. BCC usually occurs in areas with heavy sun exposure, such as the face, neck, and head. If left untreated, it can grow quite large and become very unsightly.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) also occurs in sun-exposed areas, but can appear on the arms, face, ears, back of the neck, and even the lips. The term “redneck” comes to mind. SCC presents as a scaly red nodule, can grow rapidly, and can metastasize.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma is linked to occupations with sun exposure and chemical exposure, particularly direct contact with tar, pitch, asphalt, soot, and certain industrial solvents. High-risk occupations include farming, roofing, utility workers, welders, landscaping, and the maritime trades.
Melanoma should scare anyone because it is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and it can metastasize rapidly, even to the internal organs. Melanoma can also start as a very small mole, one you may not even notice. If a mole develops an irregular shape or color, it’s time to see a dermatologist.
That said, there is good news on the Melanoma front. Merck and Moderna have been working on a vaccine to prevent melanoma recurrence with great success in ongoing trials. Although it doesn’t prevent initial cases of Melanoma, it prevents recurrence by using messenger RNA to train the patient’s immune system to recognize and attack those specific cancer cells.*
To prevent all forms of skin cancer, wear appropriate clothing with UV protection and sunscreens to limit sun exposure. It is recommended that you see a dermatologist at least once per year, more often if you have a history of skin cancer.
* European Medical Journal
