Pit of Wonders

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N/S ? ??.??? W/E ??? ??.???  [] In Nevada, United States

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Our "typical" geocache container - 12" by 3" hidden in one of the only places it could hide near the brink of an unimposing-looking gravel pit.

This low-profile gravel pit may seem uninspiring to the untrained eye but take a closer look at the ground around the pit area. Embedded in the gravels of the pit are pebbles of "Nevada wonderstone" that were tumbled and polished by streams and by wave action along the shore of a lake that was last filled to this level between about 11,000 and 13,000 years ago. The common rockhound name Wonderstone refers to a colorfully banded rock - usually in shades of tan, red, orange and brown. This rock started out as a volcanic rhyolitic air-fall tuff, formed from a deposit of ash ejected from a volcano about 12 million years ago. The rock was altered by hot groundwater that deposited pyrite (FeS2 ) and quartz (SiO2 ). Rainwater penetrated the rock and oxidized pyrite within the rock to form "liesegang bands" of red hematite (Fe2 O3 ) and orange and brown goethite (FeO(OH)). Erosion broke pieces of the rock from its outcrop higher in the hills, and streams carried the pebbles to the shore of ancient Lake Lahontan where currents and wave action tumbled and polished the pebbles to their current condition.

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Logged Visits ( 31 total. Visit the Gallery (2 images) )

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Cache Logs

November 13 by madsen12 (148 found) TFTH found on friday the 13th. [view this log]

October 11 by ChappyX6 (86 found) TFTC! [view this log]

September 29 by Me & Bucky (7375 found) Bucky & I found this one while on the 2nd day of travel between Vegas and northeastern Oregon. Today we began in Austin and ended in Fernley. Heading west on U.S. 50 after staying in Austin last night. The temperature was in the 50s, the sky was clear, and it was a beautiful day out. Neat spot here! I had never heard of Wonder Stones, so it was interesting to stop by. I didn't have time to look for any wonder stones today, but I will need to come back and give it a go. Thanks for the great cache!! [view this log] Bucky near the Pit of Wonders Cache!

September 12 by OKRA (2449 found) Looked around and found a few good samples. Thanks for the hide and good information. [view this log]

August 17 by GeoEdYOUcation (8 found) photo of Nevada wonderstones found here [view this log] Nevada Wonderstones found near here

Current time: 11/21/2009 7:25:59 PM
Last Updated: 11/14/2009 1:54:42 AM
Rendered: From Database
Coordinates are in the WGS84 datum