The term soil has traditionally been reserved for sediment <2
millimeters in size (sand, silt and clay), along with any coarser
rock fragments (gravel, cobbles, etc.). In addition, soils exhibit
some degree of horizonation; inputs of organic matter from decaying
plant and animal matter create darkened A horizons, and the
movement of water, chemical changes, and physical changes in soil
particles create B horizons.
Prior to the 1990s, soils were thought to occur from the summit
of the landscape down to a depth below water of 2 meters. Plants do
not typically grow in water deeper than 2 meters, so this seemed to
be a logical place to define the lower limit of soil.
However, research in the early 1990s by George Demas from
Maryland showed that sediment below 2 meters of water was still
capable of supporting rooted plants, most notably eelgrass. In
addition, these submerged soils still showed evidence of
horizonation (A and C horizons).
Research by Dr. Mark Stolt and Michael Bradley from URI further
demonstrated that submerged soils meet the requirements to be
classified as "soil." Michael Bradley's master's thesis focused on
developing the various criteria for mapping the different types of
subaqueous soil using Ninigret Pond as his main research site. His
research eventually led to the inclusion of 9 new soil series to be
mapped within RI. These soils include:
Massapog
Nagunt
Rhodesfolly
Marshneck
Fort Neck
Pishagqua
Napatree
Anguilla
Billington
I am obviously unable to place a cache in the middle of Ninigret
Pond, so I did the next best thing - I hid the cache along the
fringe. To get to GZ, you'll need to travel across some subaqueous
soil either by wading (how I hid the cache) or using a kayak. Don't
be put off... I didn't go crazy trying to hide this on a remote
island on Ninigret! You'll also need to perform a little soils
research on the internet. Use the included link to type in the
soil series listed above to find the information to complete the
coordinates for the final location. The final is located at 41
AB.CDE, 71 FG.HIJ
A: Massapog soils are found on:
(1)Ebb-tide deltas
(2)Flood-tide deltas
(3)Sandbars
B: True(1) or False(2) - Nagunt soils are sulfic (have a large
decrease in pH when exposed to air for 8 weeks)
C: For the Rhodesfolly series, the C'g1 horizon has a dry color
of greenish grey. The Munsell color notation for this color is 10Y
?/1.
D: The texture of the A horizon of a Marshneck soil is:
(1)silt loam
(2)clay
(3)loam
E: What is the total number of soil horizons with a "C" or "Cg"
designation in a Pishagqua soil?
F: What is the amount of organic matter in the Cg1 horizon of a
Pishagqua soil, divided by 4?
G: True(8) or False(9) - Napatree soils formed in sandy marine
deposits overlying submerged terrestrial loess or till
deposits.
H: Anguilla soils formed in sandy marine sediments
overlying
(1)glacial till
(2)glacial outwash
(3)marine clays
I: Billington soils formed in silty marine and estuarine
deposits overlying
(1)glacial till
(2)sandy marine deposits
(3)organic materials
J: The typical salinity (in ppt) of the AC2 horizon of a Fort
Neck soil is 2?%.
CC is a plastic container containing a log and some swag.
Because there were so many soil series, I didn't include the
official series descriptions like I do for other caches in this
series. But that is what the research was for! Please be sure the
lid is secure on the CC and that you resecure the CC well once you
are finished logging your find.
You can check your answers for this puzzle on
Geochecker.com.
A muddy high five to satellite girl and Going to Carolina for
the co-FTF!