Gawking at Goeken EarthCache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(not chosen)
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Goeken Park
5 Miles North of West Union near
Eldorado
(28191 Lincoln Road / Highway 150)
The Park and main entrance will be on the West side
Permission for the placement of this cache obtained
from:
Dawn L. Amundson,
Environmental Education Coordinator
Fayette County Conservation Board (FCCB)
Gawking at
Goeken
This is an Earth Cache which means there
will not be a logbook to sign at the specified coordinates.
To receive credit for this Earth Cache you perform some activities
and e-mail the answers.
Logs which do not meet the logging
requirements will be deleted.
Logging Requirements:
E-mail the answers for the following:
1. What is
the estimated height of one of the two main formation layers?
2. Describe and contrast the colors and textures of the two main
layers.
3. Does the bottom layer increase or decrease in thickness as you
follow it North?
4. In between the layers, at ground zero is a distinctive tree.
What color is the bark of the tree?
Approaching Ground
Zero
Method 1. Park near Main Entrance and walk along west side
of the road to ground zero.
Method 2. Park across from Ground Zero at Roadside
Pull-off.
Please note you may need to cross the road to get a better
look.
During winter, this pull-off may be closed due to snow.
Cautions:
Ground Zero is near Lincoln Road / Highway 150.
Please use caution when traveling alongside or crossing this
road.
Do not approach Ground Zero other than Method 1 or 2 above.
Why an Earth Cache here?
Limestones were created as lime deposits
settled on a shallow seafloor creating layers. Over time these
layers exhibit different characteristics depending on what was
happening during their formation.
The coordinates will take you to Goeken Park which overlooks the
town of Eldorado. Ground zero will take you to view exposed
Limestone Cliffs highlighting two different types of limestone
formations with dramatically different characteristics. These
formations demonstrate the different strata which can form over the
years. Studying these limestone formations serve as a guide to what
was happening during formation.
Although you will be observing a single cliff face, two distinct
formations will be evident.
Ground zero will take you to a point where the layers are about
equal in thickness on the cliff face. The bottom formation is known
as Waucoma Formation. The top formation is known as Wapsipinicon
Formation.
The upper formation actually has two members; Spring Grove Member
and Davenport Member. For the purposes of this Earth Cache, the
focus is more on the major formations rather than the
members.
The Spring Grove Member is evident while the Davenport Member is
more difficult to identify. The members differ in color, thickness
and other characteristics at this area.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Gur gerr vf havdhr va pbybe.