The place of southeastern Atlantic Canada, and specifically Nova Scotia, has always been a problem in the broad framework of Appalachian geology. The hypothesis first proposed in the late 1960's by Professor Paul E. Schenk (PhD) of the Geology Department at Dalhousie University is:
- northern Nova Scotia is part of a micro-continent (Avaland) that was sandwiched during continental collision between North America and a part of Gondwana
- southern Nova Scotia (the Meguma Zone) evolved as a segment of a Gondwana continental margin, and clung to Avaland during the rifting that created the present North Atlantic
- and northern (Avalon) and southern (Meguma) Nova Scotia were built in quite different areas, and brought together fortuitously after large-scale displacements on the intervening Glooscap Fault (Cobequid-Chedabucto Fault System).
1980 Meguma Field Guide (Paul Schenk et al. 
Logging This Earthcache
PDF brochure of the Campus Geology
Print it and take it along on your hunt.
The two images are of the Dalhousie University Upper Campus.
Within the red box is a plaque (see below). Your task is to find the plaque and have your photo taken with it. The posted coordinates are not for the location of the plaque. They are for the clock tower on the Henry Hicks Administration(A & A) Building.
Send me an email to Plasma Boy with the photo attached as well as the answers to the following:
Which formation is the rock that the plaque is attached to from?
What formation is the outcrop on the east side of the big building you are facing from?
What are the two rock types you see?
What was Paul Schenk's nickname?
What is the other possible source country (NOT IN AFRICA OR EUROPE) of the Meguma.
All of the answers are in the attached links on this page. I hope you take the opportunity to read about the Meguma Group and the about Paul Schenk. Both are fascinating pieces of our geologic history.
You must wait for confirmation before you log on-line.
Your log will be removed if you do not complete the requirements listed above.
Parking in downtown Halifax and around the campus is always a crap shoot and can be expensive. Public Transit, walking or cycling are the best ways to attain this cache.
As always, no pictures of the structure and no answers in the logs.
Please observe the geocacher's golden rule:
"Hide caches that you would enjoy finding. Seek caches that sound appealing".
WARNING: Side effects of looking for this cache could lead to a healthy demeanor, a keening of the eye, a sharpening of the wit and may lighten the burdens you carry around with you.