Glaciers in Clinton County, Ohio
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
You will be visiting Collett Woods Nature Preserve, a Clinton County park. Be prepared to hike! The given coordinates will bring you to the entrance to the preserve.
Geologic History
Approximately 325 to 350 million years ago, Ohio was under the waters of a vast, shallow, inland ocean. Silt and clay were deposited and compressed to form layers of Ordovician limestone. Great forces in the earth caused the rock to be uplifted, forming the Appalachian Mountains. The uplifted land was eroded over time by four great, continental glaciers, the last of which was the Wisconsin glacier 12,000 years ago. These glaciers had a major effect on the topography of Clinton County. The resulting erosion and sedimentation created the subsoil that underlies the Collett Woods Nature Preserve. There are several examples of glacial erratics (large chunks of Canadian granite that were deposited by a glacier) along the 1.25-mile hiking trail in the preserve.
Plant Communities
The plant communities in the preserve are the direct result of the geologic events of the past 12,000 years. The silt loam soils (containing 50%-88% silt, 0%-27% clay, and 0%-50% sand) with gently rolling ground produced a mature upland forest of beech and maple. Disturbances by man and nature allowed shade-intolerant species to grow on forest edges and where there had been large tree blowdowns. This forest is dominated by American Beech, Sugar Maple, White Ash, White Oak, and Black Walnut. Wild Black Cherry, Hackberry, and Shagbark Hickory also grow here, but they make up only a small fraction of the forest. The understory or shrub layer of the forest is dominated by Spicebush, Dogwood, and Pawpaw. The herb layer of the forest is a mixture of Giant Trillium, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Leek, Spring Beauty, Stinging Nettle, Trout Lily, and many other flora. This forest is magnificent from late March through May, with wildflowers covering the ground.
Logging Requirements
Earthcaches are placed in order to give people an educational experience. For this earthcache, you must complete the following two tasks. The pictures must be posted as part of your log, and all answers must be e-mailed to the owner. Please do not post answers in your log, or I will be forced to delete the log (and I really don't want to have to do that).
1. Find one of the glacial erratics in the preserve, and take a picture of it with your GPSr in the photograph. Then estimate the volume of the rock (a crude estimate of length times width times height is fine). Finally, find the density of granite (these glacial erratics are granite), and determine the mass of your rock. Now imagine a glacier moving many, many of these, and think of its great power!
2. Find an interesting example of the flora of the preserve, and take a picture of it with your GPSr in the photograph. Identify your plant. Then research your plant, and describe the type of growing conditions that it prefers. Does this seem to fit with what you have learned about the soil in this preserve?
Go have fun, and learn something about the role of glaciation in Clinton County!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)