SKYLINE DRIVE
There are countless wonders to behold along your journey.
Terrain 1.0-1.5 ..... All are at overlooks. ..... Most are handicap accessible.
Bring BINOCULARS if you are handicapped and wish to remain in your vehicle.
MAP https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/upload/whole_park.pdf
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to follow Leave No Trace principles. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. What is the difference between gneiss and granodiorite?
2. MESSAGE …. Locate the two types of rocks (gneiss and granodiorite) present in the Rock Wall. Describe their similarities and their differences.
3. LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item at or near the posted coords. This picture is your log signature verifying that you were at the earthcache.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU Robert L. Badger for permission to use your book for this earthcache.
THANK YOU Tim Taglauer for permission to place this earthcache along Skyline Drive.
GRANITES
Made primarily of quartz and feldspar in relatively equal amounts.
GRANODIORITES
These rocks contain quartz and feldspar in unequal amounts. Plagioclase feldspar (calcium-rich) predominates over Orthoclase feldspar (potassium-rich).
COMPARISON OF PLAGIOCLASE and ORTHOCLASE
GNEISS
Gneiss is a banded metamorphic rock.
ROCK WALL
This wall is composed mainly of gneiss and granodiorite rocks of the Basement Complex. “These rocks were probably blasted from the outcrop along the road during construction of Skyline Drive in the 1930s.”
ROADSIDE OUTCROP
The nearby outcrop is composed mainly of granodiorite. This will give you a nice view for comparison of rocks in the Rock Wall.
RESOURCES
Geology Along Skyline Drive by Robert L. Badger 2012 edition
Graphics via Internet Public Domain since no contact info available