On Top of Comers Rock EarthCache
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From Wytheville, take US 21 south. Turn right on FR 57 and
continue west for 3.7 miles to Comers Rock Campground.
(CAUTION: FR 57 is a winding dirt
road that should not be driven in low clearance vehicles especially
after wet or snowy weather).
The Rock
While to the south and southeast of the Comers Rock
summit you will find the ancient volcanoes of Mount Rogers and
Whitetop Mountain here is a totally different geological formation.
No igneous rock and no metamorphic rock. Here is the more common
sedimentary rock.
Among the different types of
sedimentary rocks:
1. Sandstone- made up of sand
grains cemented together. 2.
Shale- made up of clay particles
smaller than sand which makes it smoother 3.
Conglomerate- made up of usually
quartz pebbles cemented together 4.
Limestone- made of calcium carbonate
often deposited by sea life 5.
Dolomite- like limestone but with
more magnesium in it 6. Coal-
composed by the remains of plants and animals
Comers Rock is a beautiful sandstone outcrop that
dominates one of the summits of the Iron Mountain range. Sandstone
is the most commonly found rock of the Iron Mountain as well as
Applacichian Mountains. Just what is sandstone and how is it
formed?
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of
sand-size mineral or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of
quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals
in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but
the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, gray and white.
Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other
topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been
strongly identified with certain regions
.
The formation of sandstone involves two principal stages.
First, a layer or layers of sand accumulates as the result of
sedimentation, either from water (as in a river, lake, or sea) or
from air (as in a desert). Typically, sedimentation occurs by the
sand settling out from suspension, i.e., ceasing to be rolled or
bounced along the bottom of a body of water (e.g., seas or rivers)
or ground surface (e.g., in a desert or sand dune region). Finally,
once it has accumulated, the sand becomes sandstone when it is
compacted by pressure of overlying deposits and cemented by the
precipitation of minerals within the pore spaces between sand
grains.
For thousands, even millions of years, little pieces of our
earth have been eroded--broken down and worn away by wind and
water. Layer after layer of eroded earth is deposited on top of
each. These layers are pressed down more and more through time,
until the bottom layers slowly turn into rock.
While the sandstone of Comers Rock is more common
than the dramatically formed volcanic peaks of the nearby Mount
Rogers chain, it is just as beautiful. The colors are vibrant and
the views of the valleys below are breath taking. The climb to the
summit is fairly steep but it is a very short distance from the
parking spot (use the steps, not the elevator!) Take a picnic lunch
and take lots of pictures. Enjoy another creation of Mother Nature.
After all, she took about 600 million years to complete the
picture!
Note: In order to claim a find you must post a photo
of your group at the given coordinates with your GPSr in hand.
Also, please email us with the answers to the following questions:
1. What is the elevation of the Rock? 2. Did you find
the benchmark (its not listed)? If so, what does it say? (Caution,
this is a little tricky) 3. What are the predominant colors
of the rocks found at the peak?
Be sure to go for Papafuz's very near traditional cache
- GC1NYDZ.
We hope you enjoy your trip and always remember,
Earthcaches rock or at least some are made of rock!
This Earthcache was approved by the
Geological Society of America
| We have earned GSA's highest
level: |
 |
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Arj pbzzref ner jrypbzr ng Pbzref!
Treasures
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