~~~ GOAL ~~~
This cache is directed for inividuals who are interested in seeing and understanding several of the unique geologic features that enrich this parks beauty and heritage.
~~~Things to bring~~~
1.) Paper or notepad
2.) Pens and pencils
3.) Meauring Tape or Yard Stick
4.) Thermometer
5.) Camera
6.) Good pair of walking shoes
7.) * Park Map (Recommended)
8.) * Park Geology Brochure (Recommended) http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/ParkGuides/pg19.pdf
* Found in the Park Office or Nature Center
~~~ REQUIREMENTS ~~~
You are keeping a "Field Book" or "Journal" as if you are a real field geologist. Each stage has a different important skill. These skills are found and explained under the descripition of each geologic feature on the tour. When you have completed your requirements please scan them and post them along with your Found Log. Failure to do so will result in your log being deleted. If there is any questions feel free to contact the cache owner.
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Location 1: The Fishermen's Cave
(N 40° 59.400 W 077° 11.373)
This unique site got its name when anglers would seek shelter here from heavy rain storms.
This is not a true cave but instead the space left behind where large chunks of conglomeratic sandstone have been pulled away and eroded. This was caused by two main factors, frost action and root wedging.
Frost Action occurs when water gets within cracks and planes of weakness. The water then freezes and expands within the fracture. Over time the cracks get larger until pieces of the main rock itself is loosened and rolls away.
Root Wedging occurs when a tree root grows into these cracks. As the tree gets older the root gets wider and acts the same way as a splitting wedge does on logs. This has the same result that frost action does on the sandstone.
Skill # 1: Sketching
By creating a sketch it helps a viewer focus on details you may be writing about. It also inhibits a reader from incorrectly interrupting your information. Finally there is times in the field when you may not have a camera or its not working. In this case a sketch is the only time in which the reader can visualize what your describing.
REQUIREMENT: Sketch the "Cave" and label the dimensions. Also feel free to draw and write small explanations of anything else you may see such as fractures, bedding planes, rock types, and etc.
Please note that I will not judge your artistic abilities. This is meant to be fun!
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Location 2: Fossils in the Pavilion
(N 40° 59.561 W 077° 11.396)
The sandstone blocks you see here at Pavilion One were quarried in this local area and constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC). One interesting block you should see has a bunch of unusual streaks. These are the remains of what is believed to be the burrows/feeding traces of a prehistoric worm or other invertebrate. (If using the brochure this fossil is not skolithos and is not found in the brochure)
Skill #2: Photographs and Scale
A photograph gives you an objective view of your subject. However it can be misleading of how big or small the object is. In the field something may happen to your measuring device or its just impossible to see due to its size. In this case a common day object of a common known size can be used (Ex. A US dollar is always 6" long). Other objects can also be used but thier diemensions need be logged in your field book. (Ex. People, keys, car, GPS, Johnny's toy dinosaur, etc.)
REQUIREMENT: Locate the block with the worm burrows and use an object that can represent the scale of the burrows accurately. Remember if the object your using for scale can have a variety of sizes please post its dimensions.
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Location 3: The Little Bubbler
(N 40° 59.502 W 077° 11.473)
You should notice a small pool of water nearby with a artesian spring in it. You may imagine how this unique spring got its name as the water just seems to "bubble" from the ground. This bubbling is due to the down flow of ground water from the surrounding mountains. The water is stuck between layers of rock causing a certain amount of pressure. When the water encounters a crack or "soft spot" in the layers the water is pushed up causing the bubbling.
This is the same idea as when you would punch a small hole into a water hose.
Skill #3: Data Collecting over time.
Somethings change over time, others do not, and some flux in common patterns. The way to find this out is to record your observations over a set amount of time. The more data the better your conclusions are.
REQUIREMENT: In this case you and all the other cachers are part of a "research project" on how the temperature of the Little Bubbler differs from the lake. Please take the temperature of the spring at where it bubble's if possible. Then take the temperature of the lake at its shoreline. If there is ice on the lake and a reading is not possible then state as such. This is still valid info.
Location 4: The Overlook
(N 40° 59.784 W 077° 11.513)
Although the overlook itself has no certain geologic history, the view it provides shows a classic PA ridge and valley topography. Also if you look down at where Half-way dam is located, you should notice how Rapid Run seems to have cut straight through the mountain side.
This "water gap" formed about 1 million years ago. Before this time the hard sandstone mountains on either side of the gap was connected by a ridge of soft easily eroded shale. Halfway Run and Rapid Run were actually the "headwaters" of Elk Creek which flows almost due west. Headwater erosion of the soft shales from both sides of the ridge results in a "notch" being cut through the mountains. The rapid drop in elevation east of the dam cut back into the headwaters of Elk Creek and captured and eventually reversed part of its flow. Geologists refer to this type of stream erosion as "beheading" and the capturing of one stream by another as "stream piracy". AARRGH Matey! Today Elk Creek's headwaters arise several miles west of the park, Rapid Run flows eastward from a wetland that seperates the two streams.
Skill # 4: Memorable Info.
Suppose 50 years from now you look back at your field book and you turn to this page and your trying to remember where you were at and what you were doing. (After all you've look at thousand's of rock outcrops and they are beginning to blend together)
This can be the most important info as this indentifies your visit.
REQUIREMENT: At this site as well as the overall trip. Tell me about the adventures of you and your group, jokes, animals, plants, weather, temperature, scenary, anything at all that would bring back a flash back of your trip.
Example:
June 6, 2096 Cloudy Temperature: mid 60's
While taking a recording at the little bubbler a mother Canada Goose chased my partner into the Lake. See photo A
(This requirement may either be written in your field book or Typed up in your Online "Found it" Log.)
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*Source of Information: "Pennsylvania Trail of Geology: Raymond B. Winter State Park, Union County" Park Guide 19