Sunset Rock EarthCache
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Sunset
Rock
Sunset Rock is a large freestanding stone structure a short
distance east of Sparta Tennessee just below the summit of Bon-Air
Mountain.
Sunset Rock was not always a freestanding structure. Until
the late 1960’s Sunset Rock was Just another rock
outcropping along another mountain road. Then what was formally a
very curve filled and dangerous mountain road was replaced with a
straight and much safer modern highway. The location where the main
road once took a detour around the outcropping was bypassed with a
more than sixty foot deep and 200 foot long cut through the various
rock layers that form Bon-Air Mountain, and Sunset Rock was
born.
Bon-Air Mountain itself as the locals refer to it is not actually
a mountain at all, but the edge of a much larger plateau known as
the Cumberland Plateau which oddly enough is itself only a
part of the much larger Appalachian Plateau. The
Cumberland Plateau stretches from northern Alabama all the
way through Tennessee to extreme northeastern Kentucky. Sunset
rock gives us an excellent way to examine sedimentary rock
layers that are a part of the local geology in ways that that are
not often encountered. Due to the fact that Sunset Rock is
at its widest point only about 125 feet wide and 200 feet long we
can match rock layers on opposing sides of the rock and see
sedimentary layering in a new perspective.
Sunset Rock is also a favorite destination for amateur rock
climbers and repelling enthusiasts. After the new road was built
the department of transportation in Tennessee painted parking
stripes and put up signs that designated the old road around
Sunset Rock as a Scenic Overlook.
The View West From Sunset
Rock
At some point a few years ago a picnic table was added, today it is
rare to pass Sunset Rock without seeing at least one or two
cars sitting there. Sadly due to the isolated location and lack of
official oversight many people have chosen to deface the rock with
graffiti, so much of it, that a few of the newer transplants to the
local area refer to Sunset Rock as Graffiti Rock. Despite
this Sunset Rock is still a beautiful place to visit and
spend a few minutes understanding the geology of the area.
When approaching the face of Sunset Rock from the parking
area one of the first things you will notice is the thickness of
the upper sandstone layer, this upper layer forms close to (in my
estimation) 90% of Sunset Rock's volume. Near road level
several other layers become apparent, a shale layer among others.
The thinness of these layers have prompted a high-school legend
that Sunset Rock was moved to its current location, from
where no one can answer.
Embedded between the shale and sandstone layers is a thin but very
well defined layer of coal.
The coordinates listed will bring you to the parking area next to
the rock. Facing west you will have a great view of the Eastern
Highland Rim, and the setting sun, thus the location’s name. Facing
east you will see a undercut area with several layers of different
types of rock exposed.
In order to log this Earthcache please count and e-mail me in your
best estimation how many different types of rocks can you
count between the sandstone and the pavement level, and which type
of coal, Bituminous also known as soft, or Anthracite known as
hard, do you think makes up the layer. Also although not
required, a photo of you at the location would be nice.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)