the SANDS of Little Traverse Bay EarthCache EarthCache
the SANDS of Little Traverse Bay EarthCache
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WELCOME to BAY VIEW'S sandy beach. Not only is it sandy, but a good place to look for Petoskey Stones too! (YOU can do EarthCache GC1VY4A - PETOSKEY STONE What Is IT? at this site TOO!) This sandy beach is located near the eastern end of Little Traverse Bay. Notice the sand dunes further to the east about a mile. SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK!
The most common type of shoreline in Little Traverse Bay is the sandy beach.
Sand is a naturally occuring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. As the term is used by geologists - sand particles range in diameter from 62.5 microometers to 2 millimeters. Sand feels gritty when rubbed between your fingers!
Sand consists of rocks, crystals, shells and skeletal remains of organisms, eroded over time by the wind, water and ice. Sand compositions can vary greatly from one area of the world to another.
The most common constituent of sand is silica or also called silicon dioxide, usually in the form of quartz.
The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions. Some sands contain magnetite, chlorite and gypsum. Sands rich in magetite are dark to black in color. Deposites of magnetite in Lake Michigan as well as Little Traverse Bay were caused by glacial erosion of the bedrock from Cannada. This type of sand is made from rock and only very small amounts of shells or corals (calcium carbonate). It does not react strongly when mixed with vinegar.
Sand is transported by wind and water and deposited in the form of beaches, dunes, and sand bars.
The study of individual grains can reveal much historical and geological information as to the orgin and kind of transport of the grain. Quartz sand that is recently weathered from granite quartz crystals will be angular. It will be of different sizes too and feel rough to the touch. Sand that is transported long distances by water or wind will be rounded.
This sand was deposited here about 4,000 years ago during the Lake Nipissing stage of Lake Michigan, when the water levels were 25 to 30 feet higher than the present water levels. Rivers entering the bay carried large amounts of sand which were then moved along this beach by lake currents.
Try Greater Petoskey Area Earthcache Challenge at GC2HRCN
PLEASE send answers BEFORE you log yourf 'find.'
TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THIS EARTHCACHE please e-mail me the answers to these questions. (You will need a magnet as well as a small amount of vinagar or take a sample of sand home to do the experiment.) Sand at any nearby beach will do
1- Do you think that this sand traveled a long distance or a short distance?
2- Do you think this sand was eroded by water or wind?
3- To discover how much magnetite there is in this sand, drop a magnet into the sand and remove it. How much magnetite did you discover?
4- To discover if there are shells or coral in this sand pour a very small amount of vinagar onto the sand. If it bubbles - shells and coral are present. Does it bubble?
5- Please post a picture of yourself or group with your GPSr and the bay in view. (pic optional of course)
PLEASE SEND YOUR ANSWERS SOON after you log or I may delete!
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Treasures
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