Devil's Honeycomb EarthCache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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This is cool!
You are going to the top of Hughes Mountain, where you will find
some very good examples of columnar jointing in igneous rhyolite,
an interesting geological and geometric formation that is referred
to in this region as Devil's Honeycomb.
Here is some of what you will see...
Hughes Mountain is composed of rhyolite porphyry, which is
once-molten rock with contrasting crystal sizes. The igneous rock
has cooled to form polygonal columns, bounded by fractures (or
joints) created as the once-molten rock cooled and contracted. This
results in the interesting stairstep honeycomb formation that you
see.
On top of this mountain, there are very many exposures of the
rhyolite. There is example after example. The sizes and shapes of
the columnar formations vary somewhat in one respect. However, in
the vast range of possibilities that varying geological forces can
produce, the sizes and shapes of the rock here is pretty
consistent.
The rock here is salmon pink in color. It heavily covered with
lichen, which adds a lot of green, white, and yellow color.
The entire area on the top of the mountain is devoid of brush and
trees, and it is very easy to walk around and climb around and
inspect the rocks.
Also, the view here is fantastic.
To complete this earthcache, you are going to end up hiking a
couple of miles, uphill and downhill, and the terrain has plenty of
rock underfoot. Come prepared with proper hiking footwear,
hydration, and a snack.
To get here, start from Irondale, and take Highway M to the
southwest. After you cross the railroad tracks, continue for about
three miles, where you will see a short gravel road to your left.
Pull in there and park. Parking coordinates are waypointed below.
After locking up the car, follow the trail and your g-unit to the
top of the mountain to see the cool rock.
LOGGING REQUIREMENTS:
In order to claim this earthcache as a find, you must complete the
following tasks.
Requirement #1 - Photo Of Yourself With
Honeycomb In Background: With your find log, you must
upload a photo of yourself with an example of the exposed honeycomb
formation in the background.
Click here to see an example of the photo you need to post. I
don't care about your g-unit being in the picture. Find logs
without a photo will be deleted.
Requirement #2 - Measure The Size And Shape
Of The Columnar Structure: There are a lot of exposed
examples of rhyolite at this location. It is clear that no two
examples are exactly the same. However, as you look around,
you will see that there are quite a few common characteristics
among all the exposures. You will need to get up close and position
yourself so that you can see down onto the rock from above. Please
derive answers to the following questions:
a) In general, what is the average width of the columns? Yes, they
vary a little bit, but there are no humongous ones. So, what would
you say is the average width?
b) What shape do most of the columns have? Four-sided? Five-sided?
More-sided?
c) What about height? How high do these formations generally rise
above ground level?
d) From ground level, what is the tallest formation that you can
find here?
Requirement #3 - Explain The Natural
Process That Is Happening On Top Of The Formations: If
you get up where you can see down onto the top of the exposures, on
many of them you will notice some water-related stuff happening.
You may need to look at several before you see an example of what I
am talking about. What is going on here? Explain what you see, how
you think this affects the formation, and what you think the
long-term result of this could be, if any.
Requirement #4 - Email Me Your
Findings: Send me an email. Your email should provide
answers to the questions listed in the paragraphs above. Please be
descriptive. Do not post your answers in your on-line log.
Logs not accompanied by email within a reasonable amount of time
will be deleted per earthcache rules. So please be careful to get
done what you need to get done. You need to complete the easy
requirements to log a find. They are not difficult.
Remember Your Requirements:
Photo Of Self With Honeycomb,
Determine Sizes And Shapes,
Theorize About The Activity On Top, and
Send Your Answers In Email.
I hope you have fun.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)