Silver Cascade Falls EarthCache
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Shades State Park in west central Indiana is characterized by deep
gorges, virgin forest, numerous waterfalls, and other erosional
features. This cache is located along a moderately rugged trail
that includes numerous stream crossings and sets of
stairs.
SILVER CASCADE FALLS
This Earthcache requires an out-and-back hike of approximately ¾
mile from the nearest parking area. A set of stairs is used to
access the rugged trail to the falls, which follows a streambed
that must be crossed many times. There are steep drops near the
falls that are guarded by railings, but care must be taken,
especially with mini-cachers.
The cache is in a state park and can only be claimed during
operating hours (generally dawn to dusk). A modest entrance fee is
collected in the summer.
The Geological Backstory:
The bedrock at Shades (and throughout Indiana) is sedimentary and
was laid down in two geological eras. During the Mississippian
Period some 320-360 million years ago, the area of the Shades lay
within the delta of a broad river that deposited massive amounts of
fine sediment as it emptied into a vast inland sea. Over eons those
sediments formed into siltstone, limestone, sandstone, and shale.
Eventually the shoreline changed, sedimentation stopped, and the
area underwent normal erosional processes.
Later during the Pennsylvanian Period new material was deposited on
the eroded Mississippian landscape. This sediment was coarse quartz
sand that became the Mansfield sandstone that today characterizes
the upland areas of the Shades. The erosional disconformity where
the Mansfield sandstone meets the older Mississippian bedrock is
observable along many of the trails in the park.
The gorges, potholes, and waterfalls that draw visitors today were
formed by the erosive force of glacial meltwater near the end of
the Pleistocene Era. Many igneous and metamorphic erratics from the
glacial till were left behind and can be seen on the surface
today.
Silver Cascade Falls:
The feature of interest for this Earthcache is Silver Cascade
Falls. The familiar image of a waterfall is water spilling over a
ledge or concavity. There are many small examples of classic
concave falls throughout the park. Silver Cascade is the largest
waterfall in the Shades, and it is unusual in that it is convex
rather than concave. The area all around the falls has been exposed
to the same erosional forces that would normally produce a concave
waterfall. Why then are Silver Cascade Falls convex instead?
You will discover the reason as you answer the questions that will
allow you to log this Earthcache.
To log this Earthcache:
Hike to Silver Cascade Falls and locate the interpretive panel at
the viewing platform adjacent to the falls. With information from
the platform and your own observations, answer the following:
1. What type of stone forms the bedrock over which the falls are
flowing?
2. There is a weathering phenomenon that would normally cause
falls like these to erode into typical concave falls, but at Silver
Cascade Falls this process is hindered by the constant flow of
spring water. What is the name of the weathering
phenomenon?
3. Approximately how high would you estimate the total drop of the
main falls to be?
Post a photo of you, a team member, or your GPSr in front of the
falls and send an e-mail with answers to the questions.
Do not post answers online!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)
Treasures
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