Slochd Mimetolith Earthcache EarthCache
Slochd Mimetolith Earthcache
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A strange rock formation, known locally as the "German's Head" rock. You CANNOT stop at the cache on the main A9 - this is a busy road. Follow the instructions below.
There is a layby just south of the cache but you have to walk back up the busy road right next to the thundering traffic. You have been warned!!
What is the Slochd? What is a Mimetolith? The Slochd is a Gaelic word meaning slot or pass. It is a narrow rocky cleft through the hills between Strathspey and Inverness. Nowadays, the modern A9 trunk road, main railway line north and national Cycle route no7 all crowd their way through the pass, burying below General Wade's 18th century packhorse route. A Mimetolith? This is a geological feature that resembles a living thing or common object - in this case a Second World War german soldier's head - complete with helmet! One way to view this feature (but not to claim the cache!) is to look ahead and to the left shortly after you pass over the Slochd Summit on the way south on the A9. The hanging rock feature is to the right of a small seasonal black waterfall level with a large tree growing out of the rock face. The actual feature itself should not be approached as it is partway up a very loose and steep cliff. The coordinates are for a safe informal viewing place - there is no proper viewpoint or info board. Park either south of the viewing place at N57 17.760 W003 55.248 at the Slochd junction immediately west off the A9. 500m walk north. Or to the north of the viewing place at the Slochd Summit near the radio mast /railway line, also on the west side off the A9 at N57 18.363 W003 56.082 900m walk south. Parking is not permitted on the east side of the road here as it blocks estate access. Either way, you are walking along the National Cycle Route no7 which is free public access. The posted coordinates is a suitable viewing area - the rock "face" is then across the road to the east. Again, do not try to gain access any nearer to the feature itself as this is private land and the rock itself is very loose and friable. The "face" in any case is best viewed from a distance. It is not necessary to climb fences or place yourself at risk on the main road - although some brave (?)cachers have walked alongside the busy road from a nearby layby. This is not recommended.
IMPORTANT.....To claim the cache, you MUST carry out two tasks.
1) The Educational bit...
a) Find out the density of Sandstone(in kg/m^3).
b) Make an estimate of the volume (in m^3) of the Germans' Head. You can do this by estimating the height, width and depth (thickness) of the rock as you look at it. Multiply these three values together to get the volume.
c) Calculate the mass (in kg) of the hanging rock!
d) Do not stand under the rock....
e) Email me this info (DO NOT POST IN YOUR LOG!!) I will then give you permission to log this earthcache.
2) Post a photo of yourself and GPS clearly in view with the feature (Germans Head) in the frame.
If I do not receive the scientific answers and/or a photo is not posted, you may have your log deleted.....
Educational guidelines for Earthcaches are set by Geocaching.com and Earthcache.org and have to be adhered to.
More info about the area...
Look out for the wild goats which can often be seen clambering skillfully around the cliffs here.
Please note: I you wish to get a reply from the cache Owner concerning your answer, you will need to include your Geocaching personal email address when you send in the info. I own a number of Earthcaches and it takes much longer to reply if I have to search for your GC caching name via your profile. Thanks!
The actual rock and its formation in the Slochd Pass is quite complicated. It is an example of a Migmatitic Arkosic Psammite.
Let’s explain:
Migmatitic – this is a term that describes that the rock has been buried deep and squeezed hard. In other words, it is a metamorphic rock. It started life as a sandstone and then was squashed under great pressure and temperature to become a little like a granite as seen in the central Cairngorms. However, close examination will reveal layers in the rock.
Arkosic refers to the chemical composition of the rock – it contains quartz, potash feldspar and granitic fragments.
Psammite is a term that means a form of sandstone.
So how did this rock get here?
The underlying or “basement” rock many millions of years ago was level but then was subjected to a large earth movement – probably related to larger tectonic plate movements in the Pangea period. This resulted in a slip zone where one side of the fault was lower than the other. This is known as a rift basin and runs from the Slochd north-westwards to Flichity in Strathnairn. This basin, (up to 5.5km deep!) then filled in with a sandstone washed out from a large river delta. Subsequently, this loose sandstone was buried at a great depth and was hardened into a much tougher rock. This was then uplifted and eroded. The present day pass feature probably was formed in the last ice age as a result of river action around melting glaciers.
Please note: I no longer cache actively, but have kept these caches (Earth and Virtuals) for the enjoyment of those who do. I may not reply, therefore, to your email. If you are really looking for a reply, please don't log this cache.
Additional Hints
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