Kīpuka Puaulu ~ 'LAVA MOLDS' ~ Mauna Loa ♨ EarthCache
Hidden : 6/24/2014
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


The area of "Mauna Loa Tree Molds" is a graphic depiction of the long-term effects of lava and is located in the western fringes of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
There are no fees to access this part of the park.


There are two types of lava flows
represented in this description.

~1. Lava Trees are formed when lava surrounds a tree, chills against it, and then drains away or are coated with fountaining lava . The standing structure left behind is often called a lava tree. Tree trunks engulfed and incinerated by lava leave cylindrical hollows, or tree molds, where lava solidified against them; tree molds often preserve the original surface texture of the tree. Tree molds are found within standing lava trees and on the surfaces of lava flows. They are common in pahoehoe flows and occasionally found in `a`a flows.
~2. Tree Molds are created when a lava flow fills an area with lava and often raises the ground level - sometimes as high as 20 or 30 feet. Trees growing in such an area are quickly covered with lava. The lava touching the tree causes the tree to burn out, leaving a mold where the tree once was.
Looking into a tree mold, the bottom of the mold sometimes shows where the old ground level used to be.


Here, large acacia koa trees (the same kind of trees that are currently growing around the parking area) were buried 10–30 feet deep in lava erupted by Kilauea some 700–800 years ago. The wet trees chilled and cooled the lava as it surrounded them and thus they were insulated from the intense heat of the surrounding flow. The cooling was rapid enough to preserve the shape, even the texture of the bark of the trees in the lava, though the trees themselves burned away
  • There are 2 types of lava on the 'Big Island'.
    A'a ~ the most common appearance type of lava flows that cool down forming fragmented, rough, sometimes spiny, or blocky surfaces.
    or Pāhoehoe which has a smooth, billowy, ropy surface and has at times been likened to the surface texture of a pan of chocolate brownies.


  • For the KIPUKAPUAULU TRAIL GUIDE:
    Click HERE!

CAUTION!


Due to the uneven terrain many holes, hidden in the long grass, it is advisable to stay on the pathways or cordoned off areas at all times.


Please submit your answers to the following questions before logging your "Found It"


You must be logged in as a member to get your credit for this Earth Cache

  • 1. What type of ground/lava are you walking on and what is the color?
  • 2. Are these molds/holes in the lava from one or more lava flows? (Hint: check the layers, not the tree rings, inside the 'Tree Molds')
  • 3. What diameter do you estimate the largest lava tree hole to be?
  • 4. What do you estimate is the depth of the deepest hole?

  • Optional question:
  • 5. Do you think that the boulders, you see around the parking area, are part of this lava flow or placed here from another location?

  • NOTE:
    *Answers MUST be submitted for each log via 'Message Center' only or your log will be deleted!




Credits:
  • Hawaii guide.com
  • Volcanoes.usgs.gov/
  • Instanthawaii.com
    *Park permission:
  • ~ Approval name on file.



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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

** Bcra qnvyl sebz qnja gb qhfx.** Vs jnyxvat bss genvy n "jnyxvat fgvpx' vf n zhfg unir vgrz. [Always lock your car and remove any valuables]

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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