GC2888E A Road Runs Through It: Progress vs Geology (Earthcache) in Ontario, Canada created by Canadianzombie

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GC2888E ▼

A cache by Canadianzombie Message this owner

Hidden : 5/9/2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

The Canadian Shield

The Canadian Shield is a large geographic area in eastern and central Canada composed of bare rock dating to the Precambrian era (between 4.5 billion and 450 million years ago). It is also called the Precambrian Shield or the Laurentian Shield. In total it covers approximately 8 million square kilometers. The Canadian Shield is made up of some of the planet's oldest rock, largely granite and gneiss. The Shield is mostly thin soil lying on top of bedrock with many bare outcrops and thousands of lakes. This was caused during the last ice age, when glaciers covered the area and scraped the rock clean as the moved. A few million years of advancing and retreating glaciers have actually carried pieces of the shield into southern Ontario and the northern United States.

The shield was originally a region of very large mountains and some volcanic activity, but over the millennia the area was eroded. Mountains have deep "roots" and float over the mantle below. As mountains erode, their roots rise and are slowly eroded as well. The rocks that now form the surface of the Canadian Shield were once far below the earth's surface. The high pressures and temperatures at those depths created many forms of minerals and rocks. Since the end of the last ice age - 15,000 years ago in southern Ontario, but only 6,000 years ago in northern Quebec, the land has become covered with a thick boreal forest of coniferous trees. Today, much of the Canadian Shield is home to mining industries of various sorts, as well as logging and other forest related industries.

As you drive through certain parts of Ontario, the Canadian Shield bedrock is clearly visable, especially in areas where the highway is being widened. Unlike the other regions where the highway construction involves merely moving a lot of dirt, in various parts of Ontario, making a road is a major undertaking!

The hills are solid rock and must be blasted literally to pieces with dynamite. This is not so easy when vehicles are passing by on the highway, construction teams spread huge "blankets" of old tires over the rock face to be blasted and traffic is stopped until after detonation. Then the heavy equipment clears away the pieces of rock, which are often used to fill in low areas.

In the picture above, you can see how far down the surface rock had to be removed to make a level road. Clearly visable are the layers in the rocks, layers that were folded in gentle curves millions of years ago by the intense heat and pressure deep underground. Also visable in the picture are many vertical "stripes" in the rock that are actually drill holes where dynamite was inserted to blast apart the rock.

The Earthcache

I've passed by this site many times and was always fascinated by the engineering marvels that must have been utilzed to create such a roadway through this large portion of the Canadian Shield. It's even more impressive as you're driving through it and notice just how high the rock cut actually is and how much material was actually blasted and removed to make this roadway. Yet another way to appreciate the enormity of the task presented to the road builders is to go up to the top of the cut and glance down and around and see just how amazing difficult this task must've been. In doing this Earthcache, you will do just exactly that and hopefulle will gain some appreciation of the efforts that progress has made over geology.

I'd like to preface the tasks of this Earthcache with a warning, that when around a rock cut, there's always a danger of falling rocks, also this Earthcache will have you climbing (safely) to the top to see certain views of the rock cut that can't be appreciated from the bottom. There are spots where you will be close to the edge of the cut so I'd suggest that this cache not be for kids or if you chose to bring your children along, keep them at a safe distance from potential harm. The climb to the top isn't that difficult at all and you'll see a few good spots to make it to the top. My children (9 and 11 years old) were able to easily make the climb, although again, they stayed away from the edges at the top to avoid danger.

There will be three areas that you will be asked to go to, please watch for passing cars and for parking you may use the roadside on the parkway, it has a large shoulder and there is actually a bicycle path where you can walk to the cache or there is a proper parking area further east of the cache on the south side of the road.

Task #1 ( N 44 22.158 W 075 58.551)

This location will take you to a spot on the roadside, look west and you'll notice the towering rock wall, also you'll notice the drill marks in the rock and some red staining or bleeding in the rock. The questions for this area are as follows:

#1: Estimate how far apart the drill marks are and are they all vertical cuts?
#2: What is the staining in the rock caused by?

Task #2 ( N 44 22.171 W 075 58.593)

This location will bring you up the rock cut (I would suggest you take the south/east part of the cut for your climb) and close to the edge of the west portion of it. You don't need to put yourself in harm's way by standing on the edge, but look down and notice the beauty of the view. If you look down, you'll also notice a few abandoned drill holes that weren't utilized in the blasting efforts. There is one question to answer here:

#1: What is your elevation at this location?

Task #3 ( N 44 22.155 W 075 58.580)

This location is the final spot and what a beautiful view you'll see. Enjoy the Ivy Lee span on the Thousand Islands Bridge as well a stunning view of the river. You'll also notice off in the distance the Skydeck Tower. There is one question, but two tasks to accomplish here:

#1: What peculiar man made phenomenon is at your feet at this location?
#2: Last but not least, please take a picture of yourself or your gpsr at this location and either send it to me with your answers or post the picture with your log. I'd ask that you submit all answers to me by e-mail and please don't post them in your logs.

I hope you have fun here and have learned something about the Canadian Shield and man's (and woman's) efforts to move "mountains" in the pursuit of progress. As with all Canadianzombie caches, my hope is that you have fun and be safe.

Cheers
CZ

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