EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
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:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- log signature picture is required to post a find for this cache.
NOTE: You need a magnifying glass to complete this earthcache.
1. MESSAGE ... Using your magnifying glass, look at the sand grains at the Beach Waypoint and again at the Dune Waypoint. a. Compare the size and shape of the grains. / b. What is responsible for the difference?
2. MESSAGE ... At the Dune Waypoint, dig a hole up to your elbow. a. Describe what you see. / b. What is responsible for the differences you observe?
BE SURE TO COVER THE HOLE FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE AND CRITTERS WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR OBSERVATIONS.
LOG ... Take a picture of you or your signature item at the Dune beside the hole you dug.. This picture is your log signature.
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. Walk to any place you choose along the Beach. See Experiencing the Ocean for ways to enjoy and understand the ocean.
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.
MIRACLE ON THE BEACH / AMAZING EXPERIENCE
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU NPS Ranger Heather for permission to share this learning adventure.
GRAINS
Assateague Island has miles of white sand beaches. This sediment was carried by waterways from the quartz-rich Appalachian Mountains to the Delmarva area. There is an observable difference between the beach sands and the dune sands. This is due to the action of wind tumbling the grains over the beach before resting and thus building up the dune.
BANDS
Hurricanes and Nor’easters move sand from the eastward, ocean side of the island across to the western, land-facing side. Evidence of this movement can be seen in overwash fans. The layers of coarser material or darker, heavier mafic (iron-rich) material were deposited during times of increased wind and wave action when stronger winds were able to transport the heavier grains.
Layers in a sandpit dug at Tom’s Hook on Assateague Island.
The coarser material at the bottom was likely deposited at a time when wind speed and wave height
were greater than at the time of deposition of the top layers.
RESOURCES ... Assateague Geology / Asssateague Soils / Beach and Dune Sands / Dunes