Soils of RI #2: Quonset Traditional Geocache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(small)
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This is the second in a series of caches honoring the 58 different types of soils found within the State of Rhode Island. Soils were a major factor in the settling and early farming of RI, and soils continue to influence our industry, recreation, wildlife, and homes. As you complete this series, please take note of how the soil is determined in-part by the landscape position (summit, sideslope, drainageway), which in turn affects the vegetation.
This cache is located within the limited real estate available to caches in Goddard Park. The majority of the park is dominated by a different soil, but this section of forest contains the Quonset series. Quonset soils formed from sandy materials deposited as the glaciers from the last glacial advance began melting 14,000 to 18,000 years ago. The majority of RI soils formed from granitic rock materials. However, the rock material that formed Quonset soils was a dark-colored sedimentary rock found within the Narragansett Bay basin, giving Quonset soils a darker color than other nearby soils, such as the Windsor or Hinckley (Check out Soils of RI #3: Windsor). You may actually notice that the trails in this part of the park are a dark grey, whereas trails in the eastern part are more tan in color.
Quonset soils are good agricultural soils, but they are classified as excessively drained, meaning water moves through this soil very quickly. Quonset soils are prone to drought during the summer. Quonset soils support pine and oak forests. Houses built on Quonset soils may need special septic systems because the soil is so sandy and doesn’t effectively treat the wastewater.
Easiest access to the cache is the trailhead at the included waypoint. This seems to be a forgotten side trail in the park. Cache container is a plastic container containing some swag and an official series description. Please be sure to rehide the cache well.
Congrats to Stewj for the FTF and for being the first to complete the initial three of this series on the first day!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Oneryl bss gur genvy. Gur onex vf jbefr guna gur ovgr.