Mushroom Forest EarthCache
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Park at Universal City Park or Red Horse Park. Follow frisbee golf course east to Cibolo Creek and head downstream (right).
Sedimentary rocks such as those at this Earthcache are formed in ancient bodies of water such as rivers, lakes or oceans. Sand, mud, minerals, rocks, and even dead plants and animals are carried to these bodies of water by wind, flowing water, ice, or gravity where they sink to the bottom. Over many thousands of years this sediment forms layers that build on top of each other. The weight of all of these layers of rocks, minerals, dead animal skeletons, and plants pushes down the lower layers until they harden into rock. Sometimes a body of water may dry up after sedimentary rock is formed; and later, a stream may begin to flow through the same area as is likely the case in Cibolo creek.
So, why the budding mushroom shapes? Well, some parts of the sediment are softer than others. As water has flowed through Cibolo creek for thousands of years, it has more quickly eroded the softer sediment. These mushrooms may have boulders surrounded by softer sediment like compressed mud. As the softer sediment was washed away, the water went to work on the bases of the boulders and begin to erode them as well. You can see evidence of this throughout the mushroom field. (Some information from thinkquest.org)
To log this Earthcache, complete two of the three following earth tasks and e-mail your results to me:
1. What is the diameter of the top of the “Mushroom” at GZ?
2. Measure the distance from the beginning to the end of the Mushroom Forest. (North edge to south edge of the rock formations)
3. Measure the depth and mark the elevation of the small chasm at N 29° 33.625 W 098° 17.409.
Finally, if you get a chance, please upload a photo when you log the cache.
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Treasures
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