Devil's Cave
Devil's Cave is a rare find in that it is one of the very few caves in the
Chicagoland area. Feel free to stop by the Red Oak Nature Center to learn about
the history of Devil's Cave including the Native American Legend
that gives this geological formation its haunting name. They
also offer a guided "Cave Hike" for those who are
interested.
What is a cave?
A
cave is any natural opening in a rock formed by solution, movements
of the earth, or other geologic process. To be considered a cave
for exploration purposes, you have to be physically able to fit
into a cave.
Man-made features such as mines, culverts, quarries, and
blasted tunnels are not caves. Mines and other man-made features
require a great deal of specialized training and skills to enter
safely. Do not enter mines, quarries, and other engineered features
unless you have the appropriate training.
Types of Caves
Most caves people are familiar with are solutional caves,
they were formed by water slowly dissolving rock. But there are
also caves formed out of molten lava, rockslides, and tectonic
forces. There are
five basic types of caves epigenic, hypogenic, lava tubes,
tectonic, and boulder caves.
Epigenic
cave - A cave formed by the action of surface waters descending
into the ground and dissolving rock.
Stages of an Epigenic
Cave
Hypogenic cave - A cave formed by water rising up
from below and dissolving the rock, usually as the result of two
different kinds of water mixing together.
Stages of a Hypogenic
Cave
Lava tube -
A cave formed by cooling lava as it flows away from a volcanic
vent.
Boulder
cave - A cave that is essentially the spaces between fallen
rock, also known as a talus cave.
Tectonic
Cave is a cave formed when large slabs of solid rock move
apart.
Stages of a Tectonic
Cave
In
order to log this cache please email me the answer to the following
questions:
1. At waypoint 1, what is
the specific name of the rock found at this
location?
2. At waypoint 2, What
famous landmark is this is similar to what you see
here?
3. Based on what you have
learned here, what type of Cave is Devil's
Cave
4. Feel free to post a
photo of you and/or your group in front of the cave (or inside if
you are so bold!).
Update 5/23/2010: It appears that the signs have
been removed so simply post a photo of
you and/or your group.
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