 Mystery Cave
A cache by Accordiongal Hidden: 6/18/2008
Size:  (Not chosen) Difficulty:  Terrain: (1 is easiest, 5 is hardest)
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Mystery Cave
Earthcache
Mystery
Cave earthcache provides the opportunity to tour one of two caves,
Mystery Cave 1 or Mystery Cave 2/Minnesota Caverns. Only one tour
is required. All tours require a fee based upon age and tour,
and start at the visitor's center. The cave temperature is a
constant 48 degrees F. Warm dress is
recommended.
Mystery Cave 1:
- One-hour
tour with ramped concrete walkways, 3/4 mile, handicap and stroller
accessible, modern lighting, many formations.
- Mid
April through October, Spring and Fall tours weekend starting at 10
am with last tour 4 pm.
- Memorial
Day through Labor Day, Summer daily tours starting at 10am
with last tour 4 pm.
- Tour
Fees: based upon age
Mystery Cave 2/Minnesota Caverns:
- Two-hour
tour with rustic steps and gravel paths, 1 mile walking, fewer
formation, larger passages, hand held elecric lanterns, children
under 5 not allowed, no sandals, geologic focus
- Memorial
Day through Labor Day Summer Weekend Afternoon tours only at 1:30
and 3:30 pm.
- Tour
Fees: based upon age
<a
href="http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/kk240/Accordiongalphoto/Earthcaches/?action=view¤t=MysteryCavepicture.jpg"
target="_blank"><img
src="http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk240/Accordiongalphoto/Earthcaches/MysteryCavepicture.jpg"
border="0" alt="Mystery Cave Tours"></a>
* State Park vehicle permit is
required. Cost is either $5 for daily permit or annual permit
is $25*
Southeastern Minnesota
is cave country. Wherever limestone and dolomite make up part
of the bedrock, caves are likely to be found because those rock
types are susceptible to extinsive solution activity by
groundwater. Fillmore and Olmsted conties contain the
majority of caves in Minnesota. Most of the natural cavities
are found in limestone are of the Ordovician Dubuque and Galena
formations.
Limestone caves develop best near the water table, the boundary
between saturated and nonsatureated rock and soil. Water
moving down to the water table becomes more chemically active as it
picks up coarbon dioxide from decaying organic matter in the soil.
The resulting mild carbonic acid dissolves calcite, the
mineral found in limestone. When this mixture reaches the
water table another chemical process occurs due to the slightly
different acidity of the water table. The co-mingling of the
two waters, water from above and the water table, renew the
chemical energy to dissolve additional limestone.
Creating caves occurs along pathways, called fracture zones, with
in the rock that allows the greatest volume of water to flow.
The location and dirction of the bedrock determines the
occurance and shape of caves. Another important
factor is the outlet for water discharge. Deeply incised
valleys allow the water to drain allowing more fresh water to
enter, thus continuing the creation of the caves.
As long as the cave remains full of water, it contiues to be
enlarged by the water/solution activities. When the water
table drains and the cave fills with air, another state in
development begins, the creation of "cave decorations".
The State Park Naturalists will provide additional routine
information needed to answer the questions required for completing
this earthcache.
To complet this earthcache, you
can take a tour of Mystery Cave 1 or Mystery Cave 2/Minnesota
Caverns
Mystery Cave 1
questions:
1- What creates the beautiful color of Turquoise
Lake?
2-In the Needles Eye Room, what process is responsible
for creating the unique sound?
3-What are the unique organisms that can be found on
the water surface inside the cave?
Mystery Cave
2/Minnesota Caverns questions:
1-The Stewartville formaion contains what types of
burrows?
2-Blue Lake water depths vary, what causes the varying depths and
what is the range of water depth?
3-How was the cave entrance found?
Email your answers via my
profile.
- Please include the earthcache name Mystery
Cave
- the tour you choose
- number in you party and cachers names.
- One email per caching group.
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