Gnot just a Gneiss Lighthouse! EarthCache
Hidden : 9/12/2008
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

-- THIS IS AN EARTHCACHE, READ BELOW FOR LOGGING REQUIREMENTS --


The Blood red rocks along the shore along red rock point are a photographers dream if you can get the right lighting!

Unlike much of the pink granite in the area, you will notice a distinct difference in the colour of these rocks. The blood crimson rocks below the lighthouse are a result of granite being sandwiched under the pressure of 11km of sandstone. All that weight caused pressure and heat, the granite melted into a stew of minerals, only later cooling down as the sandstone mountain above it had melted away. The resulting rearranging and tranformation of minerals created the red "Granitic Gneiss" (pronounced 'nice') along the shoreline and into killarney park.


Red rock shoreline
The mineral soup that the gneiss was created from consisted of Mica, Horneblend, and granite (the much lighter pink rocks of the area). Throughout the course of the last 1500 million years quartz crystals and feldspar have creeped into the rock - changing the surface from a black-grey to a spectacular terra-cotta red colour.

The rocks are best viewed under a colourful sunset, but are still rather impressive under an overcast sky.

TO LOG THIS CACHE:


  1. Take a picture of yourself on the red rock coast. Include with found log!
  2. include a photo of feldspar and quartz crystal intrustions in the rock (include a coin with the photo so we can see relative size). Include with found log!
  3. Email me with the following: Describe the difference on how Quartz intrusions "blend" with the rock compared to the feldspar intrusions.(best guess, no worries)

QUARTZ VS FELDSPAR: Both are generally similar in appearance, but quartz crystals are while or clear - while feldspar is solid pink. To see the Feldspar you will probably have to get very close to the rock face


Click the logo to visit the COG website!

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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