Iona, a thin place EarthCache
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This cache is located on the Island of Iona, Scotland, United Kingdom. You will learn about its main geology structured. To claim the cache you have to enter the church and to follow a steep footpath!
Due to the protected nature there is no cachebox. Please log this cache by answering the given questions.
IONA, a thin place:
Understand its geology as a window to the beginning of earth.
You will reach Iona via the Island of Mull. The walk from the ferry to the given coordinates and back takes at minimum one hour! You will pass Iona Abbey. There you have the possibiity to answer question one.
It’s better to have at last two hours for this cache. Follow the paved road until you have to turn left in 90 degrees. There is a small sign. Follow the footpath.
Important notes:
• Please do that cache not alone – the terrain is boggy and sometimes very slippery!
• To protect the nature, please stay on the footpaths!
• Respect private properties!
• To enter the Iona Abbey Church (Question 1) you have to pay a fee but it's possible to answer the question without entering the church.
• If not staying overnight on Iona: make sure you know the ferry schedule.
• To log the cache, you will need a sheet of paper and a pencil.
What to see and what to learn:
The geology of Iona is as special as the island itself: Different to the nearby island of Mull and the famous island of Staffa which are covered by Basalt or by Granite and Schist (Ross of Mull), there is Lewisian Gneiss especially at the north end of Iona. At the beaches you can see the red and black bandings in the rock formations. Lewisian Gneiss is one of the oldest rocks known on earth, up to three billion years old! Gneiss displays compositional banding where the minerals are arranged into bands of more mafic minerals and more felsic minerals. This is developed under high temperature and pressure conditions.
You will reach the north end of Iona by walking northwards on the paved road. After passing a gate go straight ahead to the shore.
At the southeast end of Iona there is another famous geological formation: It’s your turn to figure out which one (see question 1).
At the east coast you will see the dark grey Torridonian flagstone.
On the south central region is an outcrop of Anorthosite, a white rock. Somebody told me they found it on the moon as well!
What to do to claim this earthcache:
To claim this cache, please answer the following questions. Send me your answers; you’ll get the log permission soon! Please no answers or spoiler in the logs!
1. While walking from the ferry to the given coordinates, you will pass Iona Abbey: The altar of the Abbey Church is made of a material found on the island of Iona (southeast end). Which material? (You can explore the place where they found it by a walk: Go to N56°18.709, W006°24.911, but be careful: It takes more than 1 hour and you have to pass really boggy terrain. Don’t do that hike alone!)
2. After arriving at the given coordinates, look around: There are no trees, only grassland and rocks. The rocks are worn down. Try to explain which material formed the rocks and gave the island its smooth form! Do you know when this happened?
3. At the given coordinates you will see a pyramid. Go to the south side of it. There are some Gneiss outcrops. Sketch the structure of this famous, old material! The fieldsketch should show the compositional banding and be clearly annotated to describe the features of the gneiss. Send a picture of your drawing!
4. If you like: post a photo of yourself and the landscape!
The national Trust for Scotland is informed about this cache.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
gur uvturfg cynpr bs gur vfynaq
Treasures
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