The Boils at McConnell Springs
The Boils is a unique artesian fountain formed by Karst geology and hydrogeology processes. It’s best to visit after heavy rains to see the full effect where the pool seems to boil and form a fountain. Most unique is that the water flow surfaces and submerges several times in a short distant in the park and that the Boils site is easily accessible (wheel chair enabled and ADA compliant). It is about .3 miles from the parking lot to The Boils - the path is paved except the last 135 feet which is smooth gravel. There is no need to leave the path for this cache.
Forming a backdrop to the Boils is an exposed limestone shelf, showing the layers of rock that allow formation of the conduits necessary to produce springs. Credits to Gahafer's for the photo.
Cross section view of the area.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The park is open daily year-round, Dawn to Dusk
The Education Center is open
Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday: 1-5 p.m.
416 Rebmann Lane 859-225-4073
McConnell Springs is a National Registered Historic Site owned by the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government and managed by its Division of Parks and Recreation. McConnell Springs is a 26-acre natural area containing a variety of geologic, cultural, and historic features. The park hosts trails that wander through areas with natural springs, sinkholes, stone fences, and unique vegetation. Hunters encamped near the spring named their settlement Lexington when they received word of the opening battle of the Revolutionary War. McConnell Springs is located in an industrial area of Lexington. Its location makes the park a valuable site for protecting unique and scenic habitats and providing quality education to the public.
More information on McConnell Springs and a schedule of events at the park can be found on their web site, http://www.mcconnellsprings.org/. This web site was a source for some figures and paraphrased text presented here.
Boils Karst Topography and Hydrogeology
Karst Topography generally is the result of mildly acidic water acting on weakly soluble bedrock such as limestone or dolostone. The mildly acidic water begins to dissolve the surface along fractures or bedding planes in the limestone bedrock. Over time, these fractures enlarge as the bedrock continues to dissolve. Openings in the rock increase in size, and an underground drainage system begins to develop, allowing more water to pass through the area, and accelerating the formation of underground karst features.
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well. Water may even reach the ground surface if the natural pressure is high enough, in which case the well is called a flowing artesian well (as is the case at the Boils).
An aquifer is a geologic layer of porous and permeable material such as sand and gravel, limestone, or sandstone, through which water flows and is stored. An artesian aquifer is confined between impermeable rocks or clay which causes this positive pressure. The recharging of aquifers happens when the water table at its recharge zone is at a higher elevation than the head of the well.
The Artesian Well effect is caused by the hydrostatic pressure in surrounding area water levels that are higher than the pressure at the well site. Thus naturally occurring pressure forces the water at the well to be thrust upward. At The Boils, this looks like a fountain at the peak effect.
Geologic History
The geologic history of McConnell Springs that contributed to Karst formation began more than 450 million years ago during the Ordovician Period with limy calcium rich mud being deposited on the bottom of the warm shallow seas that spread over this area. Marine life was abundant, as can be seen by the numerous fossil fragments in the limestone formations. To a geologist, a formation or member is the name of a rock that can be traced over a wide area. The names of the various rock layers usually indicate a place where these rocks are best exposed. The layers of rock exposed at the surface at McConnell Springs are, from bottom to top, the Grier, Brannon, and Tanglewood members of the Lexington Limestone Group. These can be seen on the geologic map of the area. Deep beneath the site lie Camp Nelson, Oregon, and Tyrone Formations, which are mined for limestone products.
For more information one good reference to seek - The Kentucky Geological Survey is a research and public service institute that is part of the University of Kentucky. http:// www.uky.edu/kgs.
As part of the education experience, it is required that you be able to answer some questions about your visit.
To obtain credit for this cache, email me the answers to the following questions (please include the date of your visit):
1. What is your estimate of the height of fountain effect (in feet or fractions of a foot)?
2. What is your estimate of rainfall (in inches) in Lexington during the previous 24 hours? This question is optional, but I will use this to correlate rainfall to the fountain effect and include this in the cache as the data develops. When compiled, this data will be made available to visitors to know when best to visit the Boils and will become part of this Earthcache.
One source for rainfall data is:
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KLEX.html
3. What is your estimate of the depth of the pool at the base of the fountain (in feet)?
4. While standing at the steps near the boils, look to your right and estimate the number of limestone layers (strata) visibly exposed.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Once you email me the answers, go ahead and post. If your answers are wrong, I will notify you.
While no photos are necessary to log this cache, feel free to post as many as you like. (Please, no spoilers.)
Good Luck!
Cache is approved and permission granted by LFUCG Division of Parks and Recreation. Cache code is MCSP04e - C Michael Downs