TEMPLE ROCKS!!

A Temple University Main Campus Rock tour exploring urban geology. Explore the history of Temple University from the beginning in 1884 when Russell Herman Conwell – lawyer and pastor of the Grace Baptist Church began tutoring working people who could only attend classes at night to the official charter incorporation of “The Temple College” in 1888 to the Internationally recognized research University of today through its original church building to ultra-modern structures.

Urban geology is a rich and diverse field that is not limited to seeing rocks and minerals in their ‘native’ wild environment.  A simple walk around many neighborhoods or college campuses will quickly reveal that many diverse materials are used in a variety of ways. We use different materials in our roads, walkways, buildings and hardscaping, because each material has unique properties making them the best choice for each use. This lab activity is designed to engage you in exploring and identifying the variety of geologic materials that are used on Temple University's Main campus.  As you explore the buildings and landscaping you will be asked to identify the materials and consider why each type was chosen for this use.  The map attached will guide you to the specific locations on campus.  Please be mindful of the plants and landscaping.  

Images are from the author, news.temple.edu or temple-news.com and comply with CC license and public domain.

Materials

• Campus map
• Safe walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.

START HERE: Gather at the corner of Norris on 13th by the food trucks:

Look at the materials that you are standing on. (image to the left). Are these natural rocks or are they man-made aggregates?  

How can you tell?  

Why would it be best to use manufactured versus natural materials?

Cross 13th street to the Tomlinson Theater building.

Home to Temple University Theater productions and Opera Workshops.

Do the rocks that are found in the walkway and/or stairs seem like natural stone or man-made?

Look carefully and closely at the components. What do you think they are made from?

What features give you clues to its origin?

Why do you think this type of material is chosen and used for a walkway and/or stairs?  Comment on their durability, manufacturing and cost.

Does this look similar to another rock type that we studied?

Notice the red/orange building bricks and cement used to create the building façade. Research the brick making process and why they are used for building.

Walk along Norris St. turn left, carefully cross Norris St. at the cross-walk onto the Liacouras walk. Note: there is one-way car traffic on the left.

As you continue walking along the beautiful Liacouras walk which contains one of the 3 oldest buildings on Temple's campus, reflecting Temple's turn of the 19th century history.  This picturesque walk was named after Peter Liacouras, Dean of the Law school from 1972-82, and President of Temple University from 1981-2000.

Which building(s) looks original?

As you walk past the 1940 Residence Hall on the right use the ramp. What is the outdoor seating made of?

Using the ramp to the right is 1938 Liacouras Walk. Look at the original reddish/purple stone. Note the weathering on the wall. What rock materials do you see?

 Look closely with a hand lens at the white capping stone material. What type of rock or material is this?

Note the differences between the flat white top rock near the steps. Describe the materials and why you think this material was used.

What are the wall blocks made of?

What mineral gives it this unique color?

Notice the white slab material capping the rail area near the metal ramp vs the white capping material.  Describe how they are different.  

Why would different materials be used?

Do you think one is newer than the other? Which one?

What feature can you see in the capping stone?  

Based on this feature what type of rock is this?

LOOK UP at the doorway, record the Greek numbers. What is the age of this building?

Continue along the path to the steps at MASTERWOK/PLAYA Bowls

What material are the steps made from?

Why do you think this material was chosen?

Identify several of the minerals.

Describe any weathering features.

Taking the steps down to the Liacouras Walk - notice that the steps and walking stones are different.  Describe the two different materials and why do you think two types were used? 

Notice the different grain sizes.  Explain the different conditions that could create the different textures of these similar rocks.

WALK TO THE CHARLES LIBRARY ENTRANCE: CHARLES LIBRARY is one of the newest buildings on campus. It houses the Student Success Center and a secure 24/7 study space.  This state of the art building houses the ‘Bookbot’, 220,000 square feet of space, 40 meeting rooms designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, one of Philadelphia’s largest green roofs, along with an intricate storm-water management system including permeable pavers.

Notice the rounded mixed rocks why do you think they are here?  What is their purpose?

There is a beautiful black rock covering the walls of Charles library. Of the three rock types, which do you think it is?  Explain your reason.

 Can you identify any particular minerals? Why do the surfaces look so different?

Measure the largest one that you can find.

Notice the man-made walkway pavers?  Why are these chosen?

Continue to walk along Charles Library and Liacouras walk, notice the variety of different building materials around the landscaping, walkways and steps. How many different types of rocks and materials can you find?  Make a small list.  What do you think is the benefit of using each material?

TRY TO FIND THIS FEATURE: There are several similar, choose one and identify the minerals.

TURN RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF LIACOURAS AND POLETT WALK.

Stop and enjoy a beverage at Saxby’s by the Conwell Inn; Temple University’s official lodging provider (previous home to ‘sorority row’) opened its doors in 2001. On the left you will see Sullivan Hall.  Being mindful of the landscaping, look closely at the recessed doorway, the white rocks of the steps, the wall rocks as well as the floor stone.  

There are several rock types present. Try to identify the distinct materials.

How is the doorway different from the wall rocks, steps and colorful floor rocks?

Can you see any disadvantages to using this type of rock as building material?  Discuss why it might have been used.

What rock type do you see in the border and in the wall surrounding the building?  What texture (grain size, pattern of grains) do you see in the cap of the wall?

Looking specifically at the wall rocks in the entrance to Sullivan. The light-colored rock would fizz in acid.  What mineral is this?  What is the texture?  What is the rock type?

Use a hand lens to see small shells in the rocks. – Make a drawing of a shell.

How is this different from the very white coarse-grained rock materials a little farther down?  

Make a drawing of the three rock types present in this building face.  

LOOK TO THE RIGHT and down a bit at the rocks of MITTEN Hall next to one of the Temple Campus Police Station buildings.  Mitten hall is home to a 700-person seating audience  ‘The Great Court’ along with banquet seating for 400. The vision of President Charles Ezra Beury, Mitten Hall was conceived as an activities center—a space to provide students with a sense of community where they could engage in extracurricular activities. Mitten Hall is the first philanthropically funded building on campus and was constructed with funds raised from Philadelphia Rapid Transit and Yellow Cab employees at the urging of their president, Thomas E. Mitten. In recognition, Mitten Hall was dedicated in his honor upon its completion in February, 1931.

What is the sparkly mineral on the walls and ¼ walls?

Look at the main building then the borders and walls.  Try to flake some of the shiny mineral that makes up the building stone of the main building.

What mineral is in the main building walls?  What type of rock is indicated by this mineral and this texture?

Be sure to read the Permeable pavers information sign.  Recall from class that impermeable surfaces redirect rain and surface water influencing urban drainage and flooding.

Walk toward Broad Street and turn left.  Look up at the historic Baptist Temple building. Built for the first students who attended night school. Home to one of America's great orators and Temple founder Rev. Russell Conwell. Major renovations occurred in 1998 and 2002.  

Look up at the year sign.  What rock types are these and the surrounding wall rocks made from? Notice how different it is from the wall rocks. Comment.  How have these two rock types differed in their weathering patterns?

The Beige stone has unique patterns. Describe it.  What environmental conditions create this unique pattern?

WALK PAST THE BAPTIST TEMPLE  BUILDING.

What rock types do you see on the walls and the rocks surrounding the metal grates?

TURN RIGHT ONTO BEASLEY WALK – the narrow alley toward Barrack Hall.  

In the alley between Sullivan and the Baptist Temple, there was marble covering the narrow alley walls.  Take a careful look at the walls now.  Describe what you see and why this was changed.

How does it compare with the rock you saw in the entrance to Sullivan?  

As you come out of the alley, you’ll see some new additions on Shusterman and Barrack Halls.  

How is the rock on these additions similar to the older rock you saw in the alley?  How is it different?  

In particular look at the grains – are they clastic or “welded” together?  What is the rock type?

What does the roof appear to be made from?

Turn around and walk back out of the alley and continue walking along Broad Street.  You will notice the beautiful polished black rock of Wachman Hall. Look at the wall and find the large iridescent grains.  Can you name this unique mineral?

What is the texture and composition type of the rock in this wall?

What is the rock name?

Find the largest crystal you can.  About how big is it?

Notice the chipped edges and the very large grains.

Continue walking toward CONWELL HALL.  Named after the university’s founder and first president Russell Conwell and dedicated in 1924.

What is the year marker of this building?  

Can you distinguish the newer parts of the building from updated materials?  Describe this.

What are the steps made from? Identify a few minerals.

TURN Left onto Montgomery Ave.  Look up at the side of the building Notice the three distinct rock types of the wall face.  List the three types on the image.

Walk along Montgomery avenue until you see the continuation of Liacouras walk. Turn left onto the walk. Across from the Fox school of business Alter Hall you will see a series of older red brick buildings. Carefully look at the window sill rocks.

What rock type do you see?

How has it weathered?

Return to Montgomery Avenue, cross the street until you see Ritter Hall on the right - go down the steps.  

What is this rock type?  

Where did you see this rock type used before?  

Why do you think it is used in this way?

WALK toward the Student Union building, turn left crossing over Montgomery Avenue at Alter hall (opened in 2008 and named after donors Dennis and Gisela Alter) home of the internationally rated Fox school of business. Inside you will see the longest elliptical ticker tape at the U.S. Business school. The top floor provides stunning views of the campus and Philadelphia. 

See seating: What materials is this made from?

Walk past the School of Sports, Tourism & Hospitality management building (Speakman hall) toward O’Connor plaza and the Founders Garden. Look at the wall.  

What is this rock type? Identify a few minerals.

Of the seating material outside of Alter Hall, and the wall rock, which do you think is older?  What is your evidence?

ENTER The Founders Garden.  Debuted in September 2017. Named in honor of Board of Trustees Chair Patrick J. O’Connor and his wife Marie. This quiet green space in the middle of campus is popular for both study sessions and social gatherings. It is one of the most photographed spots on campus.  

What material do you see in the steps?  

Describe the floor material.  

Did you notice that it is soft?

What is the round Owl made from?

Do you know why Temple University has the owl as its school mascot?

O’Connor Plaza and Founders Garden

Find the statue of Russell Conwell the founder of Temple in 1884. Look up this history and mission and why we are the Temple Owls. Notice the 17 diamond shaped tablets surrounding the inlaid Temple “T”.  What do the 17 represent?

From a distance, the owl has the color of what common rock?  

Look up closely and explain why it is NOT this rock.

Walk into the garden and visit the stone waterfall, can you identify the rock material?

News.temple.edu image

After you enjoy the shade of O’Connor Plaza turn right at the Liacouras and Polett Walks toward 13th street toward the Bell tower.  Use the crosswalk and turn left toward the steps of Beury Hall.

BEURY HALL – walk up the steps and look closely at the rocks in the walls. Beury Hall on the Bell tower side was built in 1964 and renovated in 2009.  It houses the Chemistry and internationally renowned Earth and Environmental Sciences departments and is named in honor of Dr. Charles E. Beury who served as a trustee of Temple from 1913-1952 and was the university’s second president from 1925 to 1941.

Examine the grain size of the steps to Beury Hall. What grain sizes do you see?  

What does this tell you about the rock types?

Describe the texture of the rocks and give the rock type and name. 

Carefully walk up the stairs on the Belltower side and look closely at the yellowish, whitish rocks that make-up the wall. What type of rocks are used in creating this wall?  Describe how they vary.

Do some of the rocks seem to be very weathered while others are not?

To what can you attribute the different weathering?

Inside the lobby are two large rocks on display. Go inside and check them out.

WALK DOWN THE STEPS toward the Bell Tower and Lenfest Circle

What type of rocks are on the steps?

Can you identify any of the minerals? Measure a few.

If the sunlight is shining, what feature of a mineral identification property are you using to identify the minerals?

Why does the grain size of the minerals vary so much?

BELL TOWER/LENFEST CIRCLE - A social center for the campus, enjoy a sunny afternoon on the grassy hill of ‘Beury beach’ and enjoy the beautiful lights at nighttime. Enjoy people watching around the Bell tower.  Relax on the recently installed cool stone around the tower. 

A social center for the campus, enjoy a sunny afternoon on the grassy hill of ‘Beury beach’ and enjoy the beautiful lights at nighttime. Enjoy people watching around the Bell tower.  Relax on the recently installed cool stone around the tower. 

What type of rocks do you see?  

The bell tower is mostly concrete. How does concrete look different from a natural rock?  How do the grain size and sorting compare?

Look up cement and learn about its components and process. Portland cement has a very specific composition.

How does cement/concrete production impact global climate change?

The Black rock seating around the Bell tower is new. Have you seen this rock type on campus already?

Walk toward the SERC (Science and Education Research Center) building and the new College of Liberal Arts walkway, by crossing 12th street. Renovations were completed in 2020 and include a glass atrium lobby, a second-floor terrace with greenspace and outdoor seating to encourage social, community and educational functions. The Gladfelter outside elevator increases accessibility to the terrace. Enjoy your favorite food vendor on the right.

What are the rocks that you are walking on?

Why do you think these were chosen?

Relax on the steps and in the balcony terrace of Anderson Hall.  

On the left you will see the Science Education and Research Center (SERC) on 12th street. SERC contains leading-edge labs and is a Gold registered LEED building, a vibration-free scanning tunneling microscope facility, groundwater monitoring wells for student instruction and regional research projects, along with open student and faculty spaces that encourage collaboration. Stop in for a great cup of coffee and healthy snack.  

 What type of rocks are you seeing?  

Notice the base of the pillars and parts of the walkway.  What minerals sparkle in the sunlight?

What are the large orange pink minerals?

WALK PAST SERC TOWARD THE ENGINEERING BUILDING TOWARD NORRIS STREET.  Look up. Notice the fabric draping on the façade of SERC. Please be mindful of the landscaping.

What is this rock material?

How is this rock different from the base rock?

Look up at the missing sections.  

Why do you think such a thin layer covers the building?  

CONTINUE WALKING TOWARD NORRIS STREET TO THE ENGINEERING BUILDING on 12th and Norris.

Notice the variable grain size is the edge seating.

Measure several of the minerals and try to identify them.  

What could cause the rusty red staining on several of the minerals?

What is this rock material?

CROSS OVER 13th STREET TOWARD THE BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE & THE TYLER SCHOOL OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE.  

What materials do you see in this building?  Take a few pictures and try to identify them.

You are now back to our starting point.  I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the many uses and variety of materials used to create the beautiful urban Temple University Campus. If you see an interesting or unusual rock on campus, take a picture and send it to us.

Summary

Where did you see metamorphic rock?

Igneous rock?

Sedimentary rock?

All images are CC from the Author or https://digital.library.temple.edu/digital/collection/p245801coll0/search/searchterm/Temple%20History%20in%20Photographs/field/digita/mode/exact/conn/and. OR temple-news.com OR news.temple.edu