Using the classification below, classify the arch to the best of your ability
1-Contextual
2-Morphologic
3-Metric - The Length - Width - Depth of the arch.
4-Geologic - This one is mostly for geology gurus. I do not expect anyone to know the geologic formation or member. However if you can take a guess at stone type, or describe the stone to me.
5-Genetic - Describe how the arch was made. If you cannot figure out the fancy words, feel free to use your own description of how it was formed.
6-Include the cache names of those you will be submitting answers for. (If they are not on your list they will need to submit their own.
This cache will be looking at the Natural Arch at this location and and using one societies way to classify those arches.
The observable attributes used in the classification of natural arches fall into five categories:
- Contextual – aspects of the surroundings in which the natural arch occurs.
- Morphologic – the general shape and orientation of various parts of the natural arch.
- Metric – the size of various parts of the natural arch.
- Geologic – the type(s) of rock and/or geologic formation(s) in which the natural arch occurs.
- Genetic – The formation method of the arch.
Contextual Attributes
- Coastal – occurring in close proximity to the shore of an ocean, sea, or major lake.
- Stream – occurring over, or adjacent to, a stream or streambed.
- Waterfall – occurring at, or downstream from, a waterfall.
- Ridge-top – occurring on top of a narrow ridge, neck, or promontory of land.
- Elevated – having an opening well above the base of the vertical fin, slab, or wall in which it occurs.
- Isolated – not attached to, or in close proximity to, any rock other than its base.
- Projecting – occurring in a fin, slab, or wall that projects outward from (roughly perpendicular to) a cliff, or occurring at one end of a vertical fin, slab, or wall.
- Occluded – occurring in sufficiently close proximity to a cliff face such that the opening is mostly obscured.
- Blocked – having large, unattached boulders in its opening.
- Filled – loose or compacted soil covers part of the rock frame under the opening.
- Flooded – water covers part of the rock frame under the opening.
- Subterranean – exposed to air but occurring under the ground, as in a cavern.
Morphologic Attributes
- Semicircular aperture – the entrances are roughly vertical and separated by a distance that is small compared to both the span and height, there is an arched lintel, and the base is roughly horizontal.
- Oval aperture (upright or prone) – the entrances are roughly parallel (roughly vertical when upright; roughly horizontal when prone), roughly oval, and separated by a distance that is small compared to the span.
- Slotted aperture (upright or prone) – the entrances are roughly parallel (roughly vertical when upright; roughly horizontal when prone), elongated and pointed at the ends, and separated by a distance that is small compared to the opening breadth.
- Cylindrical – the entrances are roughly vertical, are separated by a distance that is comparable to or larger than the span, and are connected by a hole that does not bend more than about 60°.
- L-shaped (upright or prone) – the entrances are roughly perpendicular to each other (both roughly vertical when prone; the uppermost entrance roughly horizontal and the lower entrance roughly vertical when upright) and are connected by a hole that bends at an angle between about 60° and 120°.
- C-shaped (upright or prone) – the entrances are roughly co-planar and vertical, are connected by a hole that bends at an angle greater than 120°, and are side-by-side (if prone) or one atop the other (if upright).
- U-shaped – the entrances are roughly co-planar and horizontal, and are connected by a hole that bends at about a 180 angle.
- Complex – the entrances are connected by a hole that has more than one distinct bend.
- Cavernous - light entering the opening, including diffused and reflected light, does not reach all parts of it, i.e., an observer can be positioned in the opening such that they are in total darkness during broad daylight.
- Arched – the underside of the lintel has an overall upward convex curvature such as a catenary or arch.
- Flat – the top of the lintel is roughly horizontal and planar.
- Vertical lintel – the lintel is roughly aligned with the vertical.
- Massive lintel – the lintel is very large compared to the hole.
Metric Attributes:
- Specific measurements of standard dimensions )
- Miniature – all opening dimensions are smaller than 1 meter.
- Minor – one or more opening dimensions are at least 1 meter.
- Significant – the product of any two orthogonal opening dimensions is at least 10 square meters.
- Major – having a span of 50 meters or more.
Geologic Attributes:
- Rock type – type of rock (sandstone, limestone, granite, etc.) in which the natural arch occurs.
- Formation – name(s) of the geologic formation(s) in which the natural arch occurs.
- Member – name(s) of the geologic member(s) in which the natural arch occurs.
Genetic Attributes This would be how you think the arch was formed
- Incised meander
- Lateral stream piracy
- Subterranean stream piracy
- Vertical joint expansion
- Bedding plane expansion
- Cavity merger
- Roof collapse
- Wall collapse
- Wave action
- Lava flow
- Compression strengthening
- Stress relief exfoliation
- Chemical exfoliation
- Differential erosion in one member
- Differential erosion in adjacent members
- High gradient of erosion
- Thermal exfoliation
- Flowing water
- Seeping water
- Freeze expansion
- Weathering