A Radically Bolder Landscape EarthCache
A Radically Bolder Landscape
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The landscape of northeastern Kansas was once under a massive sheet of ice.
Per scientific theory, during the 1.5 million-year-old Pleistocene Epoch, several glaciation cycles occurred on the planet. The Independence cycle, was a glacial advance that reached southern Kansas, approximately 700,000 years ago.
This graph shows the current scientific glacial cycles of the late Pleistocene Epoch and the time frame of the Independence glacial cycle.
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The ice sheets moved south across present-day America, depositing large boulders remaining when the ice melted or retreated.
Known as erratics, they aren't native to the areas in which they were deposited. They often differ in size, color and composition to the native stone, helping geologists identify their original location and prehistoric glacial advance paths.
These boulders are found around the world. Below are some images of erratics deposited by glacial advances.
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Big Rock (Okotoks) in Alberta, Canada
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Ehalkivi in Estonia
At this Kansas City intersection, you'll see the erratic. It rode an ice train scheduled to make a stop in Kansas, and now resides in this urban landscape.
Composed of Sioux Quartzite, the boulder's original home was the southeastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota area. Many buildings in Sioux Falls, South Dakota are constructed with Sioux Quartzite, such as the Federal Building shown below.
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The coordinates are the northwest corner of N. 78th St. and State Ave.
To log this earthcache, please submit your answers to the following questions:
1) Sioux Quartzite has a signature color. What is the color of this boulder?
2) Observe the physical characteristics within the rock, e.g., texture, grain, swirl patterns. Why do you believe the erratic appears this way?
OPTIONAL: Photographs will be met with giddy earthcache-geek excitement
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Resources and credits:
AlexiusHoratius, Wikimedia Commons
Coaxial, Wikimedia Commons
J.S. Aber
Satyroi.de
Tom Ruen, Wikimedia Commons
Wikipedia
Zosma, Wikimedia Commons
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Placed by a member of Denton-Area Wayward Geocache Seekers.
Additional Hints
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