What you need to know & do before you arrive:
- Read the material and questions in this earthcache.
- An earth cache has no physical log to sign – to receive credit you must find the destination coordinates and answer questions based upon observation.
- The paved road is lightly traveled and often deserted.
a.All observations can be made from your vehicle – no logging requirement requires you to leave your vehicle.
If you do decide to park – there is limited space. Traffic is limited, but caution is always advised
- The destination coordinates will send you to a road cut on Goodner Mountain.
- Pics are not necessary and never required. If you decide to take a picture, then please do not show anything that would give away answers to the logging requirements.
Inclined to the Good
The Appalachian Mountains
The local area around metro Birmingham, Al. area was once part of a seabed many millions of years ago. The sea was shallow, but the sediment settled over millions of years and helped provide the limestone (mostly small aquatic animal skeletons), sandstone, shale, and various other sedimentary rocks this area has in abundance. The sediments turned into rock by compression and other geological forces – such as heat, became the surface rock of modern day Alabama by the help of plate tectonics.
The Seabed becoming Dry Land
The vast majority of these rock formations were formed 300-360 million years ago during the Pennsylvanian and Mississippian geological eras. At a later time, the continents of South America, North America, and Africa collided as the tectonic plates shifted. This caused the present day Appalachian Mountains to be pushed upward. The former sea bed, now sedimentary rock, was the foundation of these mountains. Years of erosion slowly caused the ridges and valleys the Northeast area of Alabama is known for in present day.
Anticlines and Synclines
As the geological forces came to bear on these rocks, a wavelike pattern could result. These “waves”, folds, or compressions could result in the rock being pushed or bent upwards (anticlines) or downward (synclines). Oftentimes, these folds would help shape where the valleys and ridges did form. The dictionary defines an anticline as: an arch of stratified rock in which the layers bend downward in opposite directions from the crest. In other words or terms, think of a water or sound wave, the crest or top would have the appearance of an anticline – while the trough would be a syncline.
FTF: Kitkat
STF: Oldboyhiker
To receive credit for Inclined to the Good:
- Email me your answers by my profile email link – PLEASE: do not log your answers. I ask you to provide answers in a timely manner after you log. Thanks!
- Any pictures pertaining to this Earth Cache are greatly appreciated – but never required. I do ask that your pics not give away any logging requirements.
- Questions:
- In your opinion, what is the average height in feet of the road cut?
- Are all the rocks of the same thickness, color, texture, etc.?
- Do the rock layers lay flat or are there waves/folds in them?
- Do you see clear visible evidence of an anticline or syncline?
In your own words – explain your answer.
4. What forces caused these rocks to be found in this pattern?
5. Answer this to the best of your ability: One rock layer has a pronounced tilt or curve – it should be easily identifiable. Is this layer pointing upwards at @45 degrees or downward at @135 degrees?
References
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anticline
http://trekbirmingham.com/articles/the-geology-of-double-oak-mountain/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anticline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crest_(physics)