ThiA slot canyon is a narrow canyon, formed by the wear of water rushing through rock. A slot canyon is significantly deeper than it is wide. Some slot canyons can measure less than 1 metre (3 ft) across at the top but drop more than 30 metres (100 ft) to the floor of the canyon. There are many slot canyons in the United States Southwest such as those found on the website maintained by The American Southwest.
Many slot canyons are formed in sandstone and limestone rock, although slot canyons in other rock types such as granite and basalt are possible. Even in sandstone and limestone, only a very small number of creeks will form slot canyons. This is due to a combination of the particular characteristics of the rock, and regional rainfall. Residents of the local area are lucky to be able to come and view one of these formations within a couple hours of Victoria. The abundant rainfall and prominance of sandstone make this the perfect place to create a slot canyon.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock or organic material. It also contains a cementing material that binds the sand grains together and may contain a matrix of silt- or clay-size particles that occupy the spaces between the sand grains.
Sandstone is one of the most common types of sedimentary rock and is found in sedimentary basins throughout the world. It is often mined for use as a construction material or as a raw material used in manufacturing. In the subsurface, sandstone often serves as an aquifer for groundwater or as a reservoir for oil and natural gas.
To a geologist the word "sand" in sandstone refers to the particle size of the grains in the rock rather than the material of which it is composed. Sand-size particles range in size from 1/16 millimeter to 2 millimeters in diameter. Sandstones are rocks composed primarily of sand grains.
The grains of sand in a sandstone are usually particles of mineral, rock or organic material that have been reduced to "sand" size by weathering and transported to their depositional site by the action of moving water, wind or ice. Their time and distance of transport may be brief or significant and during that journey the grains are acted upon by chemical and physical weathering.
(Source: http://geology.com/rocks/sandstone.shtml)
The listed coordinates will take you to a beautiful beach with a small creek flowing down the slope. Follow the creek for approximatly 50 metres and you will find a great example of a slot canyon. The path can be followed without getting your feet wet but a good pair of shoes is recommended.
To log this earthcache please E-mail me the answers through my geocaching.com account and post any photos with your log. Once you've sent the email, go ahead and log your find without waiting for a reply from me. I will contact you if there are any problems with your log entry. Please do not post your answers with your log!
1) Stand at the entrance to the slot canyon. How deep is the canyon? Explain how you determined this estimate.
2) Examine the waterfall at the back of the canyon, how tall is the canyon? Explain how you determined this estimate.
3) Examine the rock in the canyon and around the mouth of the canyon (do not touch the moss). What type(s) of rock can be found near the canyon.
Sources:
Yorath, Chris. The Geology of Southern Vancovuer Island Revised 2005
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slot_canyon
Slot Canyons: What are they? http://www.summitpost.org/technical-slot-canyons-of-the-colorado-plateau/178925