GC31364 Orange Spring Mound Earthcache (Earthcache) in Wyoming, United States created by w1qa

GC31364 ▼

A cache by w1qa Message this owner

Hidden : 7/19/2011

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to the Orange Spring Mound Earthcache
Earthcache Gold

This formation is located on the Mammoth Hot Spring Terraces in Yellowstone National Park at approximately 2057 metres / 6750 feet above sea level. Access to the site and feature is handicap accessible.

Description

The Orange Spring Mound is noticeably different from many of the other terrace formations nearby. The larger mounded shape is the result of very slow water flow and mineral deposition. The spring from this mound is cooler than the other thermal features at Mammoth Terraces - approximately 157F / 70C. The cooler temperatures allow the cyanobacteria to dominate. You may find the color will change from season to season depending on the flow rate and amount of available sunlight.

The Orange Spring Mound has a medial fracture line of a fissure ridge extending along its longer axis. Three distinct and partly coalesced hot-spring cones (one is named Tangerine) occurs along the projection of the fracture of Orange Spring Mound. One end has greater duration of hot-spring activity accounting for its larger proportions. An important function of many fissure ridges is that they form dams or barriers behind which later travertine deposits accumulate.

Logging Requirements
Please provide the answers to the following questions through my Geocaching profile (w1qa) or message this owner links. If there are multiple cachers in your party please provide their names with your answers.

What gives the mound its orange colour?
What is the Orange Spring Mound comprised of?
What is the approximate size of the mound?
What end of the mound is the largest (cardinal direction)?
Is this a new or old formation - and why did you reach that conclusion?

While including a photo is not a logging requirement please feel free to upload a photo of the mound and/or you at the location with your GPS with your log. Please! No photos of the interpretive signs or answers in your log - thanks!

OK to log your find on-site or after you send your answers. I will only contact you if there are problems with your answers.

Congrads to SnowDad for his FTF on 19 Aug 2011

Additional Information
National Park interpretive sinage
http://mms.nps.gov/yell/features/mammothtour/orangesp.htm
http://www.yellowstonenationalpark.com/mammoth.htm
http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/geology/publications/bul/1444/sec3.htm

Good Luck!