The North Point Flats EarthCache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Bedrock Formation:
The limestone bedrock found in this area of Wisconsin formed during the Ordovician – Silurian age from 488.3 to 1.5 million years ago. This limestone consists of minute shells and fragments of biologically-generated calcium carbonate, mixed with erosional sediments washed in from the virtually lifeless landmasses. During this time, worldwide sea levels were at their all-time high. As the sea retreated, erosion inevitably began.
Basics:
A wave-cut platform is a basically flat area of rock found at the base of a cliff or along the shoreline of a lake, bay, sea or ocean. Also called a shore platform, a coastal bench or a wave-cut bench, it is created by wave action. Wave-cut platforms are easier seen at low tide or during times of calmer waters when the rock is above water level.
Formation:
Wave-cut platforms are formed by the processes of corrasion and hydraulic action. These actions cause undercutting between the high and low water marks, creating a wave-cut notch. This continues until the material above the notch becomes to heavy and unstable and collapses, resulting in the cliff retreating inland. Wave action then carries away the broken rock which fell from the overhanging cliff face, exposing an ever widening wave-cut platform.
Dating:
Raised platforms, found behind and above modern beaches, are evidence of higher water levels in the long ago past. Geologists are able to uncover when a platform was actually formed using dating methods and examination of the fossils found within the rock itself. Dating these platforms gives geologists needed information on what water levels were at during known times in the past.
Incipient or Dissected:
Platforms can be divided into two groups. The first group, incipient platforms, contains irregularities and is much younger. The effects of erosion have not had time to smooth these platforms. The second group, dissected platforms, is much smoother and even. Erosion has had time to work its’ wonders as this type is much older.
Potholes:
Hard grains of sand, held in suspension by rapidly flowing water, wear away at localized weaknesses in bedrock until shallow depressions are formed. Larger rocks, called grinders, eventually fall into these shallow depressions and become trapped. Continued current and wave action causes the large rocks to swirl and wear away at the walls of the depression, enlarging it, creating what are called potholes.
Plant and Animal Life:
Continual wave and tidal action flowing over a wave-cut platform makes for an extremely hostile environment. Only the toughest of organisms will ever be able to survive in an ecosystem such as this.
Email your answers to the questions, to me, using the link in my profile only. If your answers are not recieved by me, your log will be deleted. Photos are accepted and appreciated as long as the answers are not pictured. You do not have to wait for confirmation from me before logging this cache as completed. Most of all……learn……and enjoy the view.
1. What processes created this platform?
2. Would you consider this to be an Incipient platform, or a Dissected platform?
3. What is the size of the largest pothole in the general vacinity of the coordinates?
Additional Hints
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