Folded Mountains EarthCache
Hidden : 9/1/2010
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

At a gravel turnout on Alaska Highway mile 410.6 (656.8 km).

We may think of mountains as large masses of rock rising up into the sky. Some with snow, others with sharp peaks, and still others more rounded with various types of vegetation.

A relatively safe definition of a mountainous region is an area where the relative elevation difference, or relief, is between 500 to 1000 feet of elevation difference.

Seldom do mountains occur in isolation. More often mountains occur together to form ranges or chains.

Mountains are built when parts of the earth’s crust rise while other parts of the earth’s crust fall. Over a long period of time, the parts of the earth’s crust that rise into the air are then exposed to weathering factors such as wind, rain, and ice. All these forces create the some of the most amazing scenery ever.

There are three general types of mountains. Volcanic mountains are created along the plate boundaries of tectonic plates. Subduction zones occur where the crust of a sinking oceanic plate goes under a continental plate. At this zone, the oceanic plate melts creating a volcano. Volcanic mountains tend to be located sporadically, such as Mount St. Helens.

Block mountains, also called fault-block mountains, are formed along faults. Faults are an fracture or discontinuity on a large volume of rock. Active faults cause most earthquakes around the world. Block mountains occur when faults in the Earth’s crust force material upward, called horsts. Adjacent blocks are lower forming troughs or grabens. Steep front sides and sloping back sides are tell-tale signs of block mountains. The Sierre Nevada Range is an excellent example of block mountains.
Folded Mountain
The mountains you see at this location are fold mountains or composite mountains. Fold mountains are the most common type of mountain in the world. When two tectonic plates collide head on, instead of one plate sinking under the other plate, the edges crumple and buckle, creating mountains. About 175 million years ago the North American tectonic plate began to move westward, overriding the Pacific plate, colliding with offshore chains of islands. The continental shelf was caught in a squeeze and began to fold and buckle. Some 50 million years later the Rocky Mountains began to reveal themselves above the Pacific Ocean and grew for another 75 million years.

To log this cache answer the following questions using the information from the
signage.

1. Originally, where did all the rock of the Canadian Rockies lay?

2. To the height of which mountain range were the Canadian Rockies similar to?

3. According to the sign, what happened 45 million years ago?

4. Include a photograph of your GPSr and/or team at this location.



Post a note and wait for our affirmative reply to log as found. We will try to be quick.

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