Spout Springs
This is one of the highest
volume springs in Indiana. The spring exits from the base of
Beaver Bluff, eight-tenths of a mile southwest of Shoals.
Beaver Bluffs is an impressive structure of Mansfield
Sandstone. Above the springs is a rock wall, known as the
“Date Rock,” locals go out on boats during the seasonal
floods and mark, in paint, the water levels and the date on the
wall. A pipe has been installed to facilitate the filling of
plastic jugs for people who drink the
water.
How are springs formed?
Springs may be formed in any sort of rock.
When weak carbonic acid (formed by rainwater percolating through
organic matter in the soil) enters the cracks in limestone it
dissolves bedrock. When it reaches a horizontal crack or a layer of
non-dissolving rock such as sandstone, it begins to flow sideways,
forming an underground stream. The stream continues underground
until erosion lowers the topography to the waters
level.
Challenge:
To complete this earthcache you
must do all of the following:
-
Take a picture of yourself with
gpsr at the spring.
-
Estimate the height of "Date Rock"
from the road.
-
Tell me where the spring goes
after it emerges.
Please post your picture with your
log, but do not post the 2nd and 3rd answers online. Send me
an email with this information. You must fulfill all three
requirements to complete this earthcache.
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