Geological Folds
A fold can be defined as a bend in rock strata that is in response to compressional forces.
Folds are most visible in rock sections that contain layering, such as in structures common to the sedimentary, mostly limestone, strata of the Hill Country of Texas. You will frequently see folding strata as you drive around the Hill Country of Texas and this Earthcache is intended to help you to be aware of the appropriate geology so you can watch for folding and appreciate the phenomenon when you see it.
For folding deformation (bending without breaking) of rock to occur, a number of conditions must be met… some of these conditions are:
- The rock material must be able to bend under pressure and heat without breaking or crumbling over the time the deformation forces are present.
- The higher the temperature of the rock, the more it can bend without breaking.
- Deforming pressures must not exceed the internal strength of the rock. If it does, the rock breaks instead of bending.
- Deformation must be also applied very, very slowly or the rock will break instead of bending.
A number of different folding deformations have been recognized and classified by geologists.
Monocline Fold
The simplest type of fold is called a monocline. This fold involves a slight bend in otherwise parallel layers of rock.
Anticline Fold
An anticline is a convex up fold in rock that are warped upward like an arch with the rock beds dipping way and down from the center of the structure.
Note how the rock layers dip down and away from the center of the fold and are roughly symmetrical.
Syncline Fold
A syncline is a fold in which the rock layers are warped downward like a bowl. Note how the rock layers dip down toward the center of the fold and are roughly symmetrical.
More complex fold types can develop in situations where lateral (from the side) pressures are great enough to cause deformation over great lengths of rock layers.These greater side pressures can result in anticlines, synclines, and monoclines that are often inclined to the horizontal and often somewhat asymmetrical.
Logging the find
To demonstrate the educational value of your visit and to claim a FIND for this Earthcache, you must now follow the following instructions….
Please email your ANSWERS to the CO FIRST!, THEN you may LOG YOUR FIND.
Do not wait on a reply from the CO to log your find after you send the CO your answers.
Claimed FINDS which do not meet the requirements will be auto-deleted.
Do NOT answer the questions on the geocaching.com Earthcache log or place pictures of the answers to any of the questions…this, too, will cause auto-deletion.
Sorry ’bout that, but geocaching rules are geocaching rules and it’s all about education, not just claiming finds. Answers for groups will be ignored. Only individual answers will be considered.
Photos are not required, but are welcome as a great geocaching memory for your visit to this Earthcache so you and others may enjoy witnessing your presence here! Photos DO NOT qualify you for a “find”. Please be certain your photos do not offer any potential answers to the “”find” qualification questions.
Here are the questions that must be answered for a “find” to be accomplished….
1) Look to the West (across the road from GZ)...Which do you see from at the listed coordinates?
- An Anticline
- A Syncline
- A Monocline
- All of the above
- None of the above
- Some of the above
2) Is the cave developing under an anticline, syncline, monocline, or neither?
Congratulations to BulldogBlitz for FTF