Bench mark

must have used asbestos lacquer. it tastes a little different than polyurethane. thinner and a bitter aftertaste

Looks like the rye has been wearing on it. Looks like a worn spot in the center from the lettering.
jud

Aluminum bronze ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_bronze

This one is older. Someone has tried to clean it up and you can see it was made of a silver colored metal that was plated with something gold colored (not tarnished either). There are tiny pieces left inside the lettering if you look closely.

I'm throughly confused as to why this 20's benchmark did not oxidize at all. You can see where the edges have been ground off and they did not oxidize either (perhaps it was ground before it was plated).

The whole rye grass theory does not hold water for me. The recessed surfaces would be oxidized. Not sure what metal is gold colored and will not oxidize over 90 years of exposure.

JRL

I think you may have nailed it. Interesting.

These early USGS benchmarks are far and few between.

Jeremy

I always have the "new guy" buff every monument we find.

😉

Not ignoring your comment, just never tried that sort of stuff.
JRL

I recovered one in Elington MO about 25 years ago. It was in the Sidewalk at the General Store. When we pulled up to the store, the owner was sweeping the sidewalk off, and was really working on one spot. He kept the BM shiny by working it over with a broom every day.

2683'

Thanks, now I have a nose bleed.

2683'

Ya, that is the valley elevation. We have several 9000' peaks and one 14,179' peak.

I've been up on a 9000' peak.

Now that should really give you a nose bleed.