GC2B63R Those Darn Potholes! (Earthcache) in Ontario, Canada created by myrtlemoose

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: It has now been over 30 days since Geocaching HQ submitted the disabled log below and, unfortunately, the cache owner has not posted an Owner maintenance log and re-enabled this geocache. As a result, we are now archiving this cache page.

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GC2B63R ▼

A cache by myrtlemoose Message this owner

Hidden : 7/3/2010

Difficulty:

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Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

This is an EarthCache.
It's about Glacial Potholes (not the kind of dreaded potholes on the road that ruin your car!)
EarthCaches are interesting geographical features. There are no cache containers to find, no log books to sign, nor any trinkets to trade....just an interesting lesson to be learned.

IN ORDER TO LOG THIS CACHE:
YOU MUST READ THE FOLLOWING & ANSWER THE 2 QUESTIONS. BEFORE LOGGING A FIND,YOU MUST EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO ME. (You can attach the optional photo to your log entry.)

Glacial History
The Niagara Escarpment was formed 400 to 500 million years ago. A large area of North America, including the Great Lakes Basin and Southern Ontario, was covered by warm shallow water. Fossil remains of warm water organisms embedded in the limestone composition support this fact. Therefore, the Niagara Escarpment was formed prior to glaciation. The Niagara Escarpment endured another alteration - glaciation. During the Pleistocene period, some 2.5 million years ago, there were four stages of glacial advance and retreat, Wisconsin, Illinoian, Kansan and Nebraskan. The most recent glaciation being the Wisconsin Glacier, between 10,000 and 100,000 years ago. During this “Ice Age”, the Escarpment was covered by an ice sheet. When the ice started to move it carried with it grains of sand, pebbles, and boulders which were carried great distances. As the sheet ice and water moved it gouged, scraped and had strong currents against the Escarpment face.

A pothole filled with forest detritus

The Creation of the Glacial Potholes
In this area, potholes are found near the crest of the highest bedrock outcrops on the Niagara Escarpment, far above what would be considered a typical location for a river. The prevailing theory suggests that whirlpools of glacial water were the force behind the creation of these potholes. It is believed that sand, gravel and rocks became trapped in small rock cracks and the spinning whirlpools and the grinding action of these abrasive materials drilled circular or cylindrical holes known as potholes into the underlying bedrock.
Size
Potholes range in sizes. Some are reported as large as 7.6 metres (25 feet) in diameter and 24.4 metres (80 feet) in depth.

The Grinders
Specific abrading materials that carved the potholes during their formation are called grinders and are frequently found in the bottom of the pothole. With the continued downward spiraling action of the grinder, the pothole becomes deeper and the size of the grinder may become smaller.

The Creation of a Pothole
How to log this cache.
YOU MUST answer these questions & send me an email with your solutions:

1. Measure the depth and width of each pothole.
2. Try to determine the direction of spin of the grinder. Clockwise or counterclockwise?
(For BONUS points)
3. There are actually 5 or 6 potholes in this area. The other ones are larger but only partially intact. Determine the coordinates of all or/any of these additional potholes.
4. Explain why you think they are only partially intact.
5. Take a photo of yourself in all or any of the potholes. Attach this photo to your log.

Additional Hints (No hints available.)

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Those Darn Potholes! EarthCache

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