While I was enjoying my exploration of Lost Creek State Park, I quickly found the Lost Creek along with Lost Creek Falls - a beautiful 50 foot waterfall.
When I was standing next to the creek I noticed an interesting geological formation on the opposite mountainside. Then I happened upon a useful informational sign about the unique geology in the area. I decided an EarthCache was in order!
The cache coordinates will put you at the end of the driveable trail and near an informational sign which contains the answers necessary for logging the cache find.
While standing at the sign, look to the north. You will notice a peculiar geological formation on the layered mountain. The mountain consists of sedimentary rocks that were formed at the bottom of an ancient sea bed. On the right side of the mountain face you will see a light-colored band of igneous rock slicing at a 45-degree angle across the layers of sedimentary rock.
Millions of years ago while the whole area was still under the surface of the earth, tectonic forces began to work on the sedimentary layers -- folding and breaking the rocks, and ultimately uplifting the Rocky Mountains. Extreme pressures forced new molten rock into cracks in the ancient sedimentary layers. The new rock eventually cooled and hardened. The resulting stripe of rock is called a granitic dike. The informational sign at the cache coordinates provides more information about this particular granitic dike.
Before logging this cache, send me an email with the text "Molten Injection answers" on the first line and your answers to all of the questions listed below:
1. Look up at the sedimentary layers around the granitic dike. Does the granitic dike cut through only a few layers or many?
2. Does the granitic dike have a constant width from top to bottom, or does it vary?
3. How far below the surface of the earth were both types of rock when the magma that would make up the granitic dike began to cool?
4. How do you suppose the granitic dike rose to the surface and became exposed to view?
5. What do you find most interesting about the area? (optional)
I encourage you to post pictures in your log, but not pictures of the informational sign.