In geology, a dike is the name used to describe the magmatic material that has filled cracks in other stone.
In lay-man's terms, it can be thought of as a sort of geological "caulk!"
During the formation of this big ol' granite rock called Stone Mountain, the magma around the edge of the granite cooled first. As it contracted, cracks formed fractures in the surface as well as below. New magma was forced up and out, filling the cracks in the granite. These rocked·filled fractures are called "dikes." Depending upon the conditions at the time of their cooling, their composition, color, and texture can vary from that of the solid granite around them.
If the molten rock inside the fracture cooled quickly, a finer grained mineral known as "aplite" formed.
If the cooling process was slow, a mineral called "pegmatite" formed, identified by it's larger crystallized texture.
At the posted coordinates you will see a very identifiable example of a dike.
To log this Earthcache you need to email the following information to my GC profile:
#1 – What is the width (at it's thickest point) of the dike at the coordinates?
#2 – What is the overall color and shading of this dike in comparison to the outer granite sample?
#3 - Do you find this dike to be primarily comprised of Aplite or Pegmatite and why?
#4 - Using your gps, what is the elevation at this dike?
As further validation:
You must post in your log a picture showing any part of the dike in the background
WITH YOUR USERNAME VISIBLE, CLEAR AND READABLE
written on the medium of your choice (paper, hand, phone, t-shirt, etc...)
Pictures taken with only yourself, your GPS or your Logo/Avatar are not accepted nor are photoshopped/edited pictures with your username inserted afterward.
Failure to follow these instructions will lead to your log deleted.
***Remember***
Follow Leave No Trace practices such as staying on marked trails, complying with posted signs, minimizing impacts to plants and fragile mountain habitats, and always packing out trash.
While searching for the cache, be sure to follow Lift-Look-Replace practices and put all stones or logs back where you found them.