The Bowling Green Fault is the most significant geological
feature of northwest Ohio. The fault is one of the largest in Ohio
which runs from Michigan to south of Findley. The deepest part of
the fault is just to the southwest of Bowling Green which is about
200 feet deep. Your view of the fault here at Metroparks
Toledo is one of the very few places that the Bowling Green
Fault can be seen. The only other place’s that the main fault
can be seen on occasion is in a few of the quarries in the Maumee
area.
A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures (cracks) in the rock
that makes up the earths crust. Faults allow the rock to shift
apart from each other. The shifts can be horizontal or vertical, we
will be looking at these movements later in this cache.
The Bowling Green Fault dates back some 100 million year since its
last movement. It is estimated to have been an earthquake with a 5
magnitude to have caused this movement in the earth’s surface
that we are looking at here. This entire area show signs of the
earthquake that took place here. This cache will take you to, and
show some of the effects of this fault. The Bowling Green area
still produces earthquakes but none to the magnitude that causes
the crust to move.
This cache will take you on a lesson in different compressions of
the earths crust caused by the fault. The rock here dates back to
the Paleozoic period which is from 248 to 543 million years ago.
Along with the Bowling Green Fault we will be looking at a
secondary fault and a compression of the earths crust.
Parking is available in two areas near the posted co-ordinance. Pay
close attention to which parking you chose here. If you chose to
park to the east you will have a shorter distance but you will be
facing a terrain of about a 3.5 to 4.0. Chose the parking to the
west (N41 29.240 W083 44.047) the walk will be longer with only a
1.5 terrain. Depending on your choice of routes will determine the
order of the following tasks.
To log this cache you will be making several stops to learn the
difference in fault movement. You will need to complete each and
every task listed below. Do not answer them in your log, please
e-mail us with all of your answers.
1. At the posted co-ords you will find a sign that tells you about
the Bowling Green Fault. From the sign answer these questions. How
many miles are listed as the length of this fault?
2. Go to N41 29.242 W083 43.989. Here you will get a clear view of
a fault caused by the Bowling Green Fault. Answer the following
questions.
Approximate the height of the movement of the rock surface
here.
Using this Link, tell us
which type of compression of the rock here, look closely to get
this correct. You may want to take a photo for farther
reference.
3. Go to N41 29.242 W083 43.972. Here you will see a compression in
the layers of rock, in its much larger version it would be called
“orogenic activity”. Describe in detail the shape of
the compression of the layers here.
4. Go to N41 29.259 W083 43.867. You will now in the Bowling Green
Fault. Here you will need to take a photo of yourself or team with
the rock that has been spilt by the fault. Post this photo along
with your log.
This cache is placed with the permission of the Metroparks
Toledo Area.
Be sure to e-mail me within 7 days of logging the cache to
get credit for your work. If the rules of finding an Earthcache and
e-mailing the owner is not followed your log will be deleted
without notice!