The so called "Sattnitzzug", a ridge of hills situated southern of the Klagenfurt basin, is builded up by a conglomeration sequence, partly over 400 meters high, which is described as "Sattnitzkonglomerat". It is laying upon basic fine-grained seam layers. Conglomerates are in principle types of rocks builded up by sand or gravels (rounded stones) which have been stick together by a binder like clay and hardened. The "Sattnitz" conglomeration sequence, which is is characterized by rough gravel deposits, was formed in the young tertiary ice ages and partly taken down during this period too. Occasionally some included sandstone benches can be detected in the "Sattnitzkonglomerat", some of them up to 15 meters long and 2 meters thick. The gravels and sands of the "Sattnitzkonglomerat" were deposited in a river system which was widely branched and draining to the East, the direction of transportation can still be recognized from the sediment structures. Looking at the compositions of the conglomerates, one can find different types, some of them with more carbonate gravels (from the northern Karawanken ridge) and some of them with more cristalline gravels (from the mountains around the upper Drau valley and the Tauern area). In the western part of the Sattnitz a conglomeration type predominates completely, which almost exclusively consists carbonate rubble, sometimes also containing some red sandstone (permian) and extrusive rock gravels.
A geologist is using a simple test if he wants to know if the gravels enclosed in the conglomerate or the binder are chalky (limestone) or cristalline - he dribbles some drops of hydrochloric acid on the stones. If it's chalky, it will react with the hydrochloric acid by arising of carbon dioxide, calcium chloride and water - this reaction is shown by more or less foaming, but ever clearly to observe:
CaCO3 + 2 HCl (aq) -----> CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
It is also possible to make this test with simple vinegar instead of hydrochloric acid - it's easier and less risky, therefore this procedure is recommended for this earthcache.
This earthcache will lead you to an impressive rockface where the typical facies of the "Sattnitz"conglomerate can be observed. Follow the track from the parking coordinates in eastern direction, from reference point 1 follow the path in direction SSE. When you reach reference point 2, move on in direction SW, following the path traces in direction SW at the bottom of the rock face to the earthcache location and further on to stage 2.
Attention! BEFORE visiting the Earthcache site, get a small bottle with vinegar and a pipette - you will need it to get the correct answer for question no. 3!
It's highly recommended to follow the given reference points from the parking possibility to the Earthcache location - never try the direct way, this could cause risk of your life!
Your task to log this Earthcache as found:
Send your answers to the following questions via message to my account:
1.) What's the size of the stones in the conglomerate (on average)?
2.) Is this conglomerate hard ore loose bound together? Is it easy to remove gravels or not?
3.) Take a piece of conglomerate (not even some loose stones) from the bottom of the rockface and dribble some drops of vinegar on it. Give me a short description of your observations and tell me your opinion about the reason!
4.) What's the (estimated) hight of the rockface near the earthcache's coordinates?
5.) What kind of feature can be found near stage 2? Give me a short description of the situation in your own words!
Please, don't give any informations in your logs and don't post any pictures of stage 2!
Optional you can post a picture of yourself or your GPS near the rockface (Earthcache location) if you like!
There is no need to wait for a log permission! You can log the cache as found after you sent me the answers - if there's something wrong, I'll contact you!
Have fun and enjoy the location! Silberschakal