The Cay to Understanding Sand EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

GG+J: This one has had a long run. After a lot of soul searching, I've decided it's time to archive it. Many cachers want a freebie on ECs instead of doing the necessary research. My frustration level should be less now.

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Hidden : 11/21/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

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To get to this earthcache, you will need to take a walk along Long Bay Beach (also known as Seven Mile Beach) in Negril, Jamaica. The terrain is level.


Negril, Jamaica is famous for its very long white sand beach. Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. Silt is finer than sand and gravel is coarser than sand. Sand is commonly divided into five sub-categories based on size: very fine sand (1/16 - 1/8 mm diameter), fine sand (1/8 mm - 1/4 mm), medium sand (1/4 mm - 1/2 mm), coarse sand (1/2 mm - 1 mm), and very coarse sand (1 mm - 2 mm).
The composition of sand varies according to local rock sources and conditions. Sand is transported by wind and water and deposited in the form of beaches, dunes, sand spits, sand bars and related features.
A feature that you will see as you look seaward is a cay. A cay (pronounced key) is a small, low-elevation, sandy island formed on the surface of coral reefs.


Coral sand is sand of particles originating in tropical and sub-tropical marine environments from bioerosion of skeletal material of marine organisms. One example of this process is that of parrot fishes which bite off pieces of coral, digest the living tissue, and excrete the inorganic component as silt and sand. However, the term "coral" in coral sand is used loosely in this sense to mean stone of recent biological origin; corals are not the dominant contributors of sand particles to most such deposits. Rather, remnant skeletal fragments of foraminifera, calcareous algae, mollusks, and crustaceans can predominate. Coral sand is acid-soluble.

I have been informed that some building is going on since we published the cache - and the building may be obstructing the view from the coords posted. Get as close as you can!

Logging Requirements:

1. What is the name of the Cay that is visible to the Northwest, and how did it get its name?
2.Based on the size scale of sand, estimate the sub-category that the sand on this beach would fall into?
3. What type of stone is made by coral reefs?
4. Option: Take a picture of yourself holding your GPSr or just your GPSr, with the cay in the background.

LOGS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY PHOTOS, AND SENT AFTER ANSWERS HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY CACHE OWNER - OTHERWISE LOG WILL BE DELETED.

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