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 take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. Based on the reading and your observations, ... a. What direction was the paleocurrent flowing? / b. What was the qualitative speed of the paleocurrent (fast or slow)?
2. MESSAGE …. Find another rock with ripple marks anywhere along the Scripture Rock Trails. a. What direction was the paleocurrent flowing? / b. If the direction was not the same as the paleocurrent above, explain why. / c. Compare the speed of your find with your observations at the posted coordinates.
3. LOG …. Post a picture at or near the coordinates. Label picture with the trail color where you took your picture.
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
BURIED IN SAND
Sandstone is formed from cemented grains of sand. Because sandstone is a coarser material than shale or limestone, it rarely contains smaller fossils. Remains of large trees and animals (dinosaurs) are much more likely to be found. The sand forming the sandstone here was deposited 320 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian Period. At this time, Western Pennsylvania was a tropical river delta along an inland sea. The rocks in this park are all sandstone.
RIPPLE MARKS
This area was a tropical river delta along an inland sea. Ripple marks formed by the river's current can be seen on the surface of many of the rocks in the park. The most predominant example is found at the top of Veil-Lifting Rock (posted coordinates).
Ripple Marks are sedimentary structures in the rock record that indicate water current. Because this is a river system, the water moves in a single direction and the resulting ripples will have an asymmetric cross section. The long, shallow slope side is upstream, and the short, steep side is downstream. If there are pebbles present, this would indicate the water was fast moving (higher energy environment) so it carried all finer sediments downstream.
RESOURCES ... Informational Signs ... Map ... Scripture Rocks ... Video ... Lepidodendron Fossil ... Fossil Rocks ... Lepidodendron Fossils ... Scale Trees ... Rock City Park