Outdoor Geology Laboratory

Wake Tech’s Outdoor Geology Laboratory (OGL) is a unique learning environment – a collection of rock boulders representing North Carolina’s varied geological makeup. This hands-on laboratory, named "Mountains to the Sea Outdoor Geology Lab Pathway," includes 13 boulders collected by Wake Tech geology faculty from 11 quarry sites across the state. A 14th boulder was later added to the Scott Northern Wake Campus OGL when the foundation for Building H was being dug and the workers struck rock.

An Outdoor Geology Laboratory was installed at both the Scott Northern Wake and Southern Wake campuses, providing students with hands-on learning experiences to reinforce classroom education in geology. The boulders were a generous gift from Martin Marietta Materials.

Scott Northern Wake Campus OGL

Southern Wake Campus OGL

Virtual tour

This interactive North Carolina map shows the locations of different quarry sites of the chosen rock boulders. Click the numbers on the map (or on the links below) to learn more information, including photos and descriptions of each rock boulder.

• 1a. Mica Schist from Bessemer City, N.C.
• 1b. Granite Pegmatite from Bessemer City, N.C.
• 2. Marble from Kings Mountain, N.C.
• 3. Meta-Argillite from Asheboro, N.C.
• 4a. Gabbro from Concord, N.C.
• 4b. Diabase from Concord, N.C.
• 5. Greenstone from Burlington, N.C.
• 6. Monzonite from Thomasville, NC
• 7. Diorite from Raleigh, N.C.
• 8. Grano-diorite with pegmatitic dikes from Garner, N.C.
• 9. Rolesville Granite from Raleigh, N.C. (found at Scott Northern Wake Campus)
• 10. Meta-Tuff from Benson, N.C.
• 11. Castle Hayne Limestone from Castle Hayne, N.C.
• 12. Onslow Limestone from Maysville, N.C.