Uplifting Moments EarthCache
This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
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According to the interpretive sign....
The ground you are standing on is part of what is known as the "Gunnison Uplift"
The uplift occurred a long time ago by the sudden upward thrust of a large section of hard precambrian rock deeply buried by softer sediments, forming a bulge on the earths surface.
As the softer sediment was eroded off of the uplift and the Sawatch range over the eons, a large broad, flat plain was left with streams running over its surface.
Later many volcanic eruptions deposited new layers of rock forming the West Elk Mtns and the San Juan Mtns. Drainage was diverted around the south side of the West Elks directly across the Gunnison Uplift.
Once the river began it's downcutting it would stay the course despite the fact that the softer rocks to the north and south were again exposed.
The result is the Black Canyon as we see it today.
The Black Canyon is one of the few places in the world where precambian rock can be viewed in this manner. This is due to the fact that the Precambrian rock has been lifted far above its normal plane. Since the softer sediment was eroded away and newer volcanic rock was deposited directly on top of the precambrian rock this caused a missing layer in the geologic record.
To claim this cache you must answer the following question…
According to the interpretive signs at the coords above what term is used to describe the area of contact between the older rock and the younger rock?
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