Gigantic Mud Pie EarthCache
Hidden : 4/3/2007
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Geocaching at times can be dangerous.
Please act responsibly and do not put yourself or others at risk.
Stay on paths and the beach at all times and follow any signs or instructions from the Country Park Rangers.
Pay particular attention to the weather and tidal conditions and wear appropriate footwear.

At Thurstaston on the Wirral, you comes across what Nicholas Crane described on BBC’s Coast TV series as a “Gigantic Mud Pie”, which is actually a glacial 'till' formed about 17,000 years ago in the last ice age. The cliffs that lead down to Thurstaston beach are made of boulder clay and sit on a bed of Triassic sandstone. They reach up to 60m in height, and are one of the best examples of boulder-clay cliffs in the country.

During the ice age, the glacial sheet moved from the north of the UK southwards and brought with it pebbles, picking up more material as it went along. The pebbles would be on, in and under the ice, and they would grind up against each other and bits would fall off and be compressed together to form other pebbles.

Nowadays, with strong waves pounding against the bottom of these boulder clay cliffs, the mud (which is essentially glacial debris) erodes to reveal pebbles, which are a varied mixture of the whole geology of Britain to the north of this area.

Closer examinations have revealed more than 30 different minerals in the cavities of glacial erratic boulders that have eroded from this cliff. Amongst them are Calcite, Hematite, Mica, Pyrite and Zircon. A more extensive list can be found at http://www.mindat.org/loc-1592.html.

Park in the Visitors Centre car park on the left near the end of Station Road, and if late in the day, take note when the gates are locked (at other times there is a small unofficial car park at Thurstaston Slipway). If the Wirral Country Park Visitors Centre is open (from 10am each day), the rangers have requested you call in and let staff know that you’re going along the beach looking at the pebble assortment at the base of the boulder clay cliffs. Whilst there, it is also well worth having a look at the nature displays & visiting their shop. They also have information and leaflets about the country park and surrounding area, and there is a nearby café plus public toilets. Then use the paths to head down to the beach taking care with children owing to the proximity of the cliffs. If the weather is bad or the water is close to the cliffs do not go onto the beach so as to avoid taking risks including getting trapped at high tide. From the larger Visitors Centre car park the boulder clay cliffs are 10-15 minutes walk along the paths and the beach, whilst it is a shorter walk from Thurstaston slipway.

To log a find of Wirrals first Earth cache, see how many different types of pebble you can find (at least four required, but the more types the better). Do not take the pebbles away, but instead leave them for others to find. Stay on the beach at all times and do not attempt to climb onto, or dig into the soft boulder clay cliffs, as they can be very dangerous. Take two photographs, one of your pebble collection (with your GPS), and another picture looking along the beach with the obvious white house in the background. Please post these images with your log entry. Here are my two photographs :



Also, please try to name the rock types you find and to identify the possible places in the north of the UK where they may have originated. Similarly, please look for, photograph, and try to identify the minerals you find within the cavities of the boulders (some examples you may find are listed above).

Thanks to Malcolm Ingham (Head Ranger, Parks and Countryside Regeneration Department, Wirral Council) and James Locke (Senior Ranger, Wirral Country Park) for their permission to list this earth cache.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Jung? Lbh pna'g svaq n ornpu naq n pyvss!

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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