According to
a 2010 report in the journal "Science", strip mining has caused
numerous environmental problems which mitigation practices have not
successfully addressed. For example, valley fills frequently bury
headwater streams causing permanent loss of ecosystems. In
addition, the destruction of large tracts of deciduous forests has
threatened several endangered species and led to a loss of
biodiversity.
Common strip mining efforts were used to extract the desired
elements that were close to the surface. Such resources were, coal,
copper, zinc, silica, and sand. There are more, of course, but
these were most common.
This is one such place. Once a "gravel pit" where the base
materials for concrete were obtained, it is now a nature
preserve. River bottom sand is a much desired base for use in
concrete. The primary reason is that the natural processes of
erosion and the hydrolic action of the waters. Erosion from a
variety of effects chips away rock from mountains and hillsides.
Once in the waterway systems, these rocks are further chipped away
as other rocks tumble in the waters, striking each other causing
them to be eventually eroded into sand. The smaller sand and silt
particles can easily be swept away in the turbulent waters.
Eventually this sand is deposited into pooling spots where waters
slowed enough for gravity to overcome the force of the water and
let the sand settle to the bottom. These can be valleys between
high points of land, or low spots created by receeding glaciers.
Containing particles from every type of rock from which they began,
the particles are fairly uniform in size and shape. This is what
makes the sand so desirable for construction and manufacturing
uses. It is predictable as to how it will mix with other elements
to obtain the desired result.
These sands are also the focus of a different type of mining. As
quartz, marble, limestone, granite, and others are eroded, any
precious metals and gemstones they contained are also separated
from the stone as it is slowly chipped away. This was quite a draw
for the Fourty-Niners during the California Gold Rush as miners
would pan the streams to gather the gold contained within. Using
the same technique that Nature used to create the opportunity in
the first place, water swirled around to wash away the lighter
particles, leaving the "good stuff" behind. The precious metals
were then collected and used as currency.
The sands that were too coarse, did not meet usable criteria, or,
in the case of mining, did not contain ore, were tossed aside into
piles. These piles are called "tailings".
Had these sands remained undisturbed, over time, they would have
continued to accumulate, layer by layer, until the compression
caused by gravity would have created another layer of
sandstone.
Today, this area is a wildlife sanctuary. Any and all fauna
that can find a habitable spot is free to live here without fear of
human displacement again. As time progresses, trees will again
flourish and winged animals will have nesting sites. More
grasses will grow on the land, as well as aquatic plants. The
filtering these plants perform on the ground and pond waters will
eventually help cleanse the acidic waters now there. Leaf
litter and other organic materials will enhance the thin soils in a
restoration cycle.
Eventually, when the area is established and funds are available
for full-time maintenance, creature comforts for the human
population will be created so we can finally enjoy the efforts of
those who have been challenged to assist Mother Nature in her
efforts. One day, this will be a functional wildlife refuge and
nature preserve where humans can again frolic with Nature.
To log this earthcache, you have to visit three locations.
At the first location, you are to take a picture of you and/or your
GPS with the lakes in the background. As this is a preserve in
progress, you are to go no closer than Ground Zero to obtain this
picture. This picture is to be posted with your log.
At the the second location, you will be at a hillside where the
"tailings", unacceptable or unusable materials, were
deposited. It is within a few feet of the roadside
turnout. Take a handful of the material and describe it's
content, and what type of rock from which these materials may have
originated.
At the third location, you are to find two signs. Locate the sign
that indicates what city/town/village/hamlet has inherited and is
in progress of rehabilitating this area. Also, on another sign, you
must determine what kind of permit is required for
entry.
Email these
answers from location 2 and location 3 to me via my email link on
my profile page, and post the required picture with your found log
here.
I reserve the right to delete any logs that do not
provide the picture required, and/or, fail to answer the questions
completely or do not send them in a timely manner.
Congrats to CPNE for FTF
on 08/27/10
