The Sandstone Trail was officially opened in 1974 and goes through the heart of rural Cheshire, finishing in North Shropshire. It follows a ridge of sandstone that rises above the Cheshire plain giving spectacular views along most of it.
Formation of the Sandstone
The mid-Cheshire ridge is formed of layer upon layer of Triassic sandstones and pebble beds. These sedimentary rocks were laid down in semi-arid desert conditions, interspersed with occasional flash floods between 225 and 195 million years ago. Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock which is formed by the deposit of minerals (such as clays) and rock fragments (e.g. quartz) by a fluid such as water. As the particles are deposited they become known as sediment. Over millions of years this sediment is compressed and the sand particles are cemented together by the minerals and forms sedimentary rock. The colour of sandstone varies greatly from white through to tan through to red through to black depending on the mineral composition. Sandstone with a red colour is a result of the presence of iron oxide (commonly known as rust).
Formation of the ridge
After the sandstone was formed the Earth's crust was pushed upwards vertically fracturing the horizontal sedimentary sandstones. As the Earth's crust continued to be pushed upwards the sandstone was pushed up and tilted (to an angle of 12degrees). This movement took millions of years. Later, during the Ice Age these uplifted rocks were gradually eroded leaving the harder layer of Triassic sandstone protruding above the Plain and forming today’s mid-Cheshire ridge. It is this ridge that you are walking along when you are walking the Sandstone Trail.
The Cheshire Plain and the mid-Cheshire Ridge were subjected to a number of Ice Ages which have resulted in some more distinct features along the ridge and can be seen whilst walking the trail and will be featured in the series as the trail passes them.
To log this cache please email us the answers to the following questions:
1. What colour is the sandstone that makes up the sandstone ridge running through Cheshire and is the main building material for the monument?
2. Which mineral causes the colour of the Cheshire sandstone?
3. Some of the blocks on the monument have layers of a different colour to that of the main one. What is this colour and how have the different layers been formed?
When logging this earthcache please ensure that you send us the answers to the questions. To log an earthcache you are required to complete additional logging tasks, you need to answer the questions. If we do not receive the answers within 24 hours we will delete your log.