BQ0298 - "MCDONALD RM 3" reference mark disk - Mount Locke, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Raven
N 30° 40.291 W 104° 01.353
13R E 593633 N 3393606
This benchmark is one of 4 still existing (read: "recovered") marks located right near the McDonald Observatory's main telescope on top of Mount Locke (Davis Mountains), Texas. The observatory is actually a benchmark as well!
Waymark Code: WMT6Z8
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/05/2016
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member NW_history_buff
Views: 2

Per the NGS' description 1977 (although originally monumented in 1971):

"ABOUT 15.05 MILES NORTHWEST ALONG STATE HIGHWAY 118 FROM THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE AT FORT DAVIS, THENCE 1.90 MILES SOUTHEAST ALONG SPUR 78 FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH 118, AT THE 82 INCH TELESCOPE AREA AT MCDONALDS OBSERVATORY, ON THE INSIDE OF A CIRCLE DRIVE, 12.3 FEET NORTH OF NORTHWEST LEG OF TRIANGULATION TOWER, 16 FEET NORTHWEST OF NORTHEAST LEG OF TRIANGULATION TOWER, 22 FEET EAST OF WEST CENTERLINE OF DRIVE, 17 FEET NORTH WEST OF MCDONALD NO 4, 90 FEET NORTHEAST OF FLAGPOLE."

The 1977 description is somewhat obsolete, as the triangulation towers no longer exist. However, the key point to take away is the reference to "on the inside of a circle drive"...

More importantly (and more appropriately, given this day and age), the station's latest associated NGS Data Sheet's posted coordinates were in line with my own observations -- as measured within 10' accuracy: this should greatly help the next finder of this BM.

The station was recovered in pretty good condition despite being driven over at times... see posted waymark's gallery images for BM close-up and setting details, 2 of which have been re-posted by the NGS on their website as well: (visit link)

---

Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (visit link)

BQ0298 ***********************************************************************
BQ0298 DESIGNATION - MCDONALD RM 3
BQ0298 PID - BQ0298
BQ0298 STATE/COUNTY- TX/JEFF DAVIS
BQ0298 COUNTRY - US
BQ0298 USGS QUAD - MOUNT LOCKE (1978)
BQ0298
BQ0298 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
BQ0298 ______________________________________________________________________
BQ0298* NAD 83(1993) POSITION- 30 40 17.48524(N) 104 01 21.20101(W) ADJUSTED
BQ0298* NAVD 88 ORTHO HEIGHT - 2067.244 (meters) 6782.28 (feet) ADJUSTED
BQ0298 ______________________________________________________________________
BQ0298
BQ0298_MARKER: DR = REFERENCE MARK DISK
BQ0298_SETTING: 7 = SET IN TOP OF CONCRETE MONUMENT
BQ0298_STAMPING: MCDONALD NO. 3 1942 1971
BQ0298_MARK LOGO: CGS
BQ0298_STABILITY: C = MAY HOLD, BUT OF TYPE COMMONLY SUBJECT TO
BQ0298+STABILITY: SURFACE MOTION
BQ0298_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
BQ0298+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - August 19, 2010
BQ0298
BQ0298 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1971 MONUMENTED NGS
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1977 GOOD NGS
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1977 GOOD NGS
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1980 GOOD NGS
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1986 GOOD
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1988 GOOD USPSQD
BQ0298 HISTORY - 1989 GOOD USPSQD
BQ0298 HISTORY - 19961007 GOOD USPSQD
BQ0298 HISTORY - 20030322 GOOD USPSQD
BQ0298 HISTORY - 20100806 GOOD GEOCAC
BQ0298 HISTORY - 20100819 GOOD GEOCAC
Condition: Mark found in good condition

Designation: MCDONALD RM 3

Benchmark Agency: U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey

Monumentation type: REFERENCE MARK Disk

County: Jeff Davis County

USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Name (optional): Marfa

Find type: Coordinates and/or to-reach information from the NGS database (or Geocaching's copy of it) were used

Web address of this benchmark's datasheet (optional): [Web Link]

NGS PID: BQ0298

Benchmark Agency (if other): Not listed

Monumentation type (if other): Not listed

Special category (optional): Not listed

Special Category (if other): Not listed

Local database's URL (optional): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
  1. A closeup photo of the mark taken by you is required.
  2. A 'distant' photo including the mark in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.
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Raven visited BQ0298 - "MCDONALD RM 3" reference mark disk - Mount Locke, TX 09/20/2016 Raven visited it