Kayenta Formation ID Earthcache EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

geoawareUSA2: After having some promising talks with various people thing broke down and lead to the fact that no one will grant permission on Navajo property, and are uncomfortable with doing so. Even for caches on properties that are leased.

So for that reason, the cache needs to be archived.

Geoawareusa2

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Hidden : 1/1/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

As an earthcache, there is no “box” or “container” to discover. Rather, with this cache, you discover something about the geology of the area. For more info, consult www.earthcache.org

The logging requirements are listed first to avoid potential truncation for paperless cachers.

This formation is visible from the parking lot of an area franchise hotel as you look east.

PLEASE VIEW, LEARN, LOG.
IT IS DISABLED ONLY BECAUSE IT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE REVIEWERS THAT ALL PROPOSED/ACTIVE EARTHCACHES ON NAVAJO NATION LAND MUST RECEIVE APPROVAL FROM THE NATION. HOWEVER, IT IS PROVING DIFFICULT TO FIND THE "PERSON" THAT FEELS THAT THEY CAN GIVE THAT PERMISSION. See my notes below (June 4, etc.)

Logging Requirements:
Send the answers to #1-#3 to me through my geocaching profile. DO NOT post the answers to any logging requirements on this site.

1. List the name “GC2KJ4B Kayenta Formation ID Earthcache” in the first line of your email. Also, list the number of people in your group.
2. Based on the description below of the Color and texture of the Kayenta Formation, what percentage of the formation on the east side of the highway is composed of the Kayenta Formation?
3. (optional requirement based on GC.com guidelines, but it sure helps verify your smiley if your answers to the above are not “quite right”) Post a picture of yourself and/or your GPS with your log that shows You on the bridge or in the parking area (with ocean/creek in background. DO NOT show any of the pertinent information panels in your picture or your log may be deleted.

I will only respond if you have incomplete logging requirements. Go ahead and log your cache

Geology:
The Kayenta Formation is a geologic layer in the Glen Canyon Group that is spread across the Colorado Plateau province of the United States, including northern Arizona, northwest Colorado, Nevada, and Utah. This rock formation is particularly prominent in southeastern Utah, where it is seen in the main attractions of a number of national parks and monuments. These include Zion National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, the San Rafael Swell, and Canyonlands National Park. The Kayenta Formation frequently appears as a thinner dark broken layer below Navajo Sandstone and above Wingate Sandstone (all three formations are in the same group). Together, these three formations can result in immense vertical cliffs of 2,000 feet (610 m) or more. Kayenta layers are typically red to brown in color, forming broken ledges.

In the formations in the Kayenta area, the Kayenta formation of rock is easily identified. Even at a distance it appears as a dark-red/maroon band of thin-bedded material between larger lighter layers of navajo sandstone.

The Kayenta Formation was formed by a change from eolian to fluvial deposition. In contrast to the sweeping eolian cross- beds of the underlying Wingate and overlying Navajo Sandstones, the crossbeds in the Kayenta are typically only a few feet thick. Interbedded sandstones, basal conglomerates, siltstones, and mudstones are typical channel and floodplain deposits. Paleocurrent studies show that during deposition of the Kayenta, rivers flowed in a general westward to southwestward direction. The rocks of the Kayenta Formation display an excellent example of the effects of a climate change resulting in ergs of the Wingate Sandstone being reworked by fluvial processes.

Geologically the Kayenta rock is made up of beds of sandstone, shale, and limestone. All are lenticular, meaning that the rocks appear to bulge out a little, since the sediment has “conglomerated” somewhat, forming “lentil-like” bulges in the formation. The shape of the formation suggest sedimentary deposits made by shifting streams that had a fluctuating volume. The sandstone beds, that are sometimes less than 1 inch thick and in other about 10 feet thick (still “thin” in comparison to the Navajo sandstone), are composed of relatively large, well-rounded quartz grains that are cemented by lime and iron. In the thicker beds, are indefinitely cross bedded. The shales in the formation are essentially fine-grained, very thin sandstones that include lime concretions. The limestone appears as gray or blue in the cliff walls. When you look at the Kayenta formation in its entirety, it tends to be darker and “harder” than the other formations above and below it.

You are looking at Black Mesa, and the Kayenta Formation in this area is actually considered part of the “Black Mesa Province” of rocks in this area. Black Mesa is a great place to hike if you have a day!

The age of the Kayenta Formation is controversial, though most scholarly books place it in the Late Jurassic. Since Dinosaurs of different varies have been found in this formation, the of course is a debate about which dinos SHOULD be present within that time period!

Resources:
Utah Geology.com
Wikipedia.com – “Kayenta Formation”
USGS – (visit link)
DinoDomain.com – (visit link)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx rnfg npebff gur ebnq!

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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