What's This?

[ModernDayWarrior]

It is about the size of a twelve guage shotgun shell in diameter. That's what I thought it was at first but it is just a disc and it says U.S.G.S. B.M. Any Ideas?

 

[trobaughokc]

Think this is it.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/comm_assistance/benchmarks/pdf/clark.pdf

 

[ModernDayWarrior]

I found it in Dialville, Texas at a home that is 103 years old. The house is next to where a railroad ran through. The rail road is not used anymore, in fact the rails and ties are gone now.

 

[trobaughokc]

Apparently the U.S. Geological Survey has these Bench Mark disks imbeded in markers or on strategic locations all over the place.

 

[newtocoinhunting]

While it may seem like it is not used anymore that may not have been the case, there are two type of USGS benchmark markers; vertical markers have elevation data stamped on them and horizontal markers are just plain discs. What you have is a benchmark marker used for horizontal surveys etc.

I would recommend anytime anyone finds a displaced benchmark that you contact the National Geodetic Survey advisor in your state to report it (in the event that they need to have a replacement marker mounted).

For Texas: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/ADVISORS/Texas.shtml
U.S. Map: http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/ADVISORS/AdvisorsIndex.shtml

Happy hunting.