Be
prepared for extreme temperatures in the summer above 100 degrees
and in the winter below freezing. The Valley of Fire began as sand
dunes. Sand dunes are hills of sands build by Aeolian processes.
When the sand is compacted and hardened, sand forms into sandstone.
The sandstone in the Park is a fine-grained sandstone called Aztec
sandstone. Fine sand is like a cutting tool. When the wind blows it
around in the air, it works like a sandblast against the rocks.
Because of the sparse vegetation and the large amount of sand,
crossbedding (lines in the rock) can occur. The Beehives here
display a multi-directional (crosshatching) erosional force. Some
of the rocks show a surface called “desert varnish”.
Desert varnish is a dark, somewhat shiny stain found on desert
rocks that have been exposed for a long time. Manganese and iron
oxides, hydroxides, and clay minerals form most of these varnishes.
Both groundwater and rainwater are constantly cementing the
sandstone at the Park. Seeping water from the ground oxidizes the
rocks providing a vivid reddish color to the Beehives.
Wind erosion is not the only type of erosion seen in the park.
Chemical dissolution, freezing, and thawing resulting in expansion
of surfaces as well as strong desert thunderstorms create changes
in the rock.
Logging requirements:
Send me an email with answers to these questions:
1. Count how many crosshatches are between the top of the cave at
the bottom of the beehive (at the given coordinates) and 30 inches
up from the cave (it's fewer than 10, and greater than 5).
2. Explain how you think a cave might be formed in the
sandstone.
3. Take a picture of you or your group at a beehive other than the
one you have to count the crosshatches at.
Please Note:
1. You must answer all the questions in your email to me and post
all picture(s) with your log.
2. Your logging this cache and sending me the email should happen
at around the same time.
3. Begin your email with the name and geocaching code of this
Earthcache, your name(s), and the number of people in your
group.
Failure to comply with the above will result in
your log being deleted!
The above information was
compiled from the following sources:
1. Fiero, William. Nevada’s Valley of Fire:
The Story Behind the Scenery. KC Publications, Nevada.
2008.