At the first waypoint (R1) if you look to the cut of the road on the West you can see some ripples in the sandstone.
- What kind of ripples would you make of them.
- Is there a direction that they seem to be moving?
- Color of the sandstone.
Second Waypoint(R2)
- What kind of ripples/patterns would you make of them.
- Is there a direction that they seem to be moving?
- what is the difference int he two outcrops?
- Color of the sandstone.
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Millions of years ago there were oceans and rivers that covered this area. By looking at the cross section of the bedding you can tell the direction of the waves and streams. Those ripples become solidified in the sandstone.
First is the direction. If a shoreline is reaching the waves and the waves are splashing forward and back we see an even look to the cross section. These are Known as symmetrical. If you flipped it backwards the cross section would be the same.
The second would be in the base of a river (for example). All the water flows in one direction. In this instance the you end up with a dune like structure. They build up with a gentle slope with a sudden drop when the peak is reached.
Another ripple is known as Lingoid. This is actually a mess. Waves are coming in from multiple directions making the ripples appear mixed and kind of like the surface of a like with waves coming from different directions.
This cache will take you to two locations along the road. There you can identify the ripples that are in the sandstone.
You can usually tell something else from the sandstone. If there was a lot of oxygen and iron the sandstone will be red as the iron in the sandstone oxidizes. This is not always the case, sometimes the iron is leached out. with water running through some layers. At other times the iron may be attracted to the other iron that is in the material. Forming Iron nodules or concretions. This can leech the iron out of it, or out of some of the area around where it is forming.
Another thing that you may see is from the list above.
A - Cross bedding of the sandstone. There is some in the area but you will not see it at this location.
B - Is the petrified remains of the ripples in the sandstone.
C - Some of the deposits may be exposed and dry. This makes the mud crack. It may fill in at the next flooding. Because the second deposit (on top of the cracked mud) may be at a different time you may see cracks that are filled. You may see this with ripples on the top, or not.
Diagrams taken from Hintze, L. F., (editor), 1962, Geology of the Southern Wasatch Mountains and vtcinity, Utah: Brigham Young University Geology Studies,