Brasstown Falls EarthCache
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A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, known here as Brasstown Creek, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a nickpoint, or sudden break in elevation.
The story of Brasstown Falls began about a billion years ago with the collision of ancient continents to form the super continent of Rodinia. This collision crumpled and thickened the crust burying the rock that would become Brasstown Falls some 5 miles under high mountains. Rocks that are buried this deep are exposed to temperatures over 1000° F and pressures over 150,000 pounds per square inch. These temperatures and pressures cause minerals to crystallize into layers and also to become folded or wrinkled. These metamorphic rocks can be seen at Brasstown Falls in the different colored and folded layers of rock.
About 750 million years ago the super continent of Rodinia began to break apart. The two main continents were formed from the breakup, Laurentia which would later become North America and Gondwana which would later become South America and Africa. At this time Brasstown Falls was near the southern coast of Laurentia, if you had your GPS then you would have been at about 25° south longitude.
About 330 million years ago Gondwana collided with Laurentria , this collision pushed up the deep buried metamorphic rock to form the Appalachian Mountains. Geologists have estimated the height of the Appalachians at this time to be an average of 26,000 feet. The collision of Gondwana and Laurentia formed the next super continent known as Pangea.
During the Triassic period about 220 million years ago the super continent of Pangea began to break apart. As what happened before with Rodinia the crust cracked and sank as it stretched apart. A great rift basin formed north to south along what are now the east coast of North America and the west coast of Africa. This basin has grown 4000 miles to what is now the Atlantic Ocean.
The past 200 million years weather has eroded the Appalachian Mountains to there present height and rounded form. Streams such as Brasstown Creek come from springs in the higher mountains that flow into rivers, lakes and eventually the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. As these streams flow down the mountain they encounter drop off in the rock that create waterfalls such as Brasstown Falls. So as you look at the beauty of Brasstown Falls think about the amazing journey these rocks have taken from being buried 5 miles deep below the earth to rise over 20,000 feet above just to be worn down by weather and time.
Classification of waterfalls
Block: Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river.
Cascade: Water descends a series of rock steps.
Cataract: A large, powerful waterfall.
Fan: Water spreads horizontally as it descends while remaining in contact with bedrock.
Horsetail: Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock.
Plunge: Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface.
Punchbowl: Water descends in a constricted form, then spreads out in a wider pool.
Segmented: Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends.
Tiered: Water drops in a series of distinct steps or falls.
Multi-step: A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool.
Logging Requirements
1 - estimate the height of Brasstown Falls
2 - What are the two years on a memorial stone found near the falls?
3 - How would you classify Brasstown Falls at posted coordinates?
4 - post a picture of you and/or GPSr taken at the falls
Waterfalls can be very dangerous areas. Never attempt to climb a waterfall, avoid ledges, and remember the rocks can be very slippery.
Thank-you, Mike Crane for allowing me to develop this earthcache!
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