Viewing at Volga EarthCache
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Volga River State Recreation Area (VRSRA)
10225 Ivy Road, Fayette Iowa 52142
East from Highway 150 (5 Miles SE of West Union, 4 Miles NE of Fayette)
Permission for the placement of this cache obtained from:
Scott Michelson, Park Manager Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Geocaching Placement Permit submitted and approved
Viewing at Volga
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 from cliff top to the road?
2. At ground zero, there is a pile of rocks…based on the information below from what formation are they from?
3. Why or how do you know?
4. What are the words on the man-made structure nearest to ground zero?
Approaching Ground Zero
Ground Zero is near the Albany Bridge in the South East of the VRSRA. From the West entrance, follow Ivy Road, until Hill Road and the signs towards the Equestrian Campgrounds. Ground Zero will be past the campgrounds along a dead end road near the Albany Bridge.
Cautions:
You will be looking at the limestone cliffs but ground zero will be down at road level. Proceed to your ability and comfort level if you wish to get a closer look at the formations. Completion of the Earth Cache can be accomplished without climbing to the base of the cliff.
Why an Earth Cache Here?
The coordinates will take you to an area in the VRSRA to view naturally exposed Limestone Cliffs highlighting two different types of stone Sections and their associated formations of the Paleozoic Plateau.
The Paleozoic Plateau
The characteristics of the Paleozoic Plateau are valleys and cliffs with bedrock exposures. The topography here in North East Iowa can be quite dramatic compared to the gentle slopes, rolling landscapes and plains for the remainder of the state. The cliffs and valleys allow for the bedrock to be viewed and studied. The Two Stone Sections and associated Formations 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 a dead end road near Albany Bridge in the VRSRA.
There are two major stone Sections viewable in the cliff.
Viewing the Sections from the highest point or top down:
1. Silurian Section specifically the Lower Silurian Section.
2. Ordovician Section specifically the Upper Ordovician Section.
The Silurian Section hosts three Formations (from the top down):
1. Blanding-Hopkinton Formation
2. Waucoma Formation (A small tongue of this formation)
3. Tete Des Mort Formation.
The Ordovician Section hosts one main Formation here (from the top down):
1. Maquoketa Formation
The Ordovician Section will be closest to the road. It is made up of Brainard Shale. Shale is relatively impermeable and will be found on the gentle slope. The shale is mostly covered but sometimes isolated areas may be visible. This shale with be green gray or blue gray in color.
The limestone cliffs will feature the Silurian section in a more evident manner. The Tete Des Mort formation will be quite distinct and blocky in nature. The upper most formations, the Waucoma and Blanding-Hopkinton formations are not as easily distinguishable from one another. However, the limestone layers should be clearly evident. The limestones from the Silurian section would be much more fractured and porous in nature than the shale.
Congratulations to SEAM for the FTF!!!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Whfg orpnhfr lbh rawbl ebpxf naq Rnegu Pnpurf qbrf abg znxr lbh n "oybpx" urnq.