Ormiston Gorge EarthCache
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Ormiston Gorge showcases the spectacular geology and landforms
of the MacDonnell Ranges. The Gorge has a near-permanent
waterhole, estimated to be up to 14 metres deep at its southern end.
The area contains an interesting variety of native fauna and flora
including a number of relict plant species remaining from a tropical past
Ormiston Gorge showcases the spectacular geology and landforms of the MacDonnell Ranges.
Ormiston Gorge is probably the most colourful of all Australian gorges. The orange and red quartzite walls have been wildly fractured. The floor of the gorge is strewen with fallen boulders and rocks of every colour and pattern imaginable.
The Gorge has a near permanent waterhole, estimated to be up to 14 metres deep at its southern end.
Geologists believe that around 300 to 400 million years ago something special happened here. It is understood that both the gravity and teleseismic travel-time anomalies within the Arunta Block, which Ormiston Gorge forms a part of, created a thrust zone causing the rocks that you see at GZ to shift several kilometres to their location today.
The spectacular red cliffs are really two layers of quartzite that are stacked like huge slabs of bread in a giant sandwich.
The top layer was originally located approximately 2km north of this site before it was thrust southwards to its current location where it now sits on top of another slab of quartzite. Enormous forces caused the rocks to be bent and cracked, thus causing the rocks to shift.
To complete this cache you need to take the short walk up to the lookout on the Ghost Gums track. This track leaves from the main car park.
For more information on this park an information guide can be downloaded here (visit link)
When completing the walk you will find various pieces of information along the way which will contain the answers to the following questions:
1. What was the spectacular red wall of the gorge originally?
2. Layers of what formed later on top of the sand?
3. How many millions of years ago did the rocks beneath your feet once lay at the bottom of the sea?
4. What are the twisted layers made up of?
Please send your answers in an e-mail to us via our GC profile (don't post the answers in your log!).
If you fee like it please post a photo of yourself either from the lookout, or down below in the gorge (note this is optional). If you are game to go for a swim without freezing you can even grab some quite different views of the area.
Source of information NT parks & wildlife.
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Treasures
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