Cattaraugus County
Enjoy the wonders that abound within these Enchanted Mountains.
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. What is the difference between the two types of banding mentioned?
2. MESSAGE …. Based on your observations of the two rocks with concentric banding. ... a. Do you think these are two halves of the same rock? Why or why not. ... b. Are these rocks an example of Liesegang rings or just Iron staining? Explain your choice.
3. MESSAGE …. Observe the rocks with iron staining embedded in this rock wall. ... a. How many rocks are there? ... b. Describe the differences among these rocks.
4. LOG …. Post a picture at or near the posted coords. This picture is your log signature verifying that you were at the earthcache.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
THANK YOU Victoria @ pa.gov -and- Dr. Ovidiu D. Franţescu @ Pitt Bradford for your help with this earthcache.
THANK YOU Mr. Bretzin (Portville Librarian) for permission to share this earthcache.
TYPES OF ROCKS - Sedimentary/Igneous/Metamorphic ... See Rock Sentinels
LIESEGANG RINGS
Some rocks have colored bands arranged in a regular repeating pattern. Liesegang rings are distinguishable from other sedimentary features by their concentric or ring-like appearance. ... Liesegang rings are "nested rings of bands caused by rhythmic precipitation within fluid-saturated rocks." Victoria
AGATE RINGS
Most of the world's agates developed in ancient volcanic lava. Repeating changes in crystal size, type, and direction causes the characteristic banding pattern of the agate. The colors are from trace elements like iron or manganese.
IRON STAINING
Most sedimentary rocks contain iron in varying degrees. This mineral may appear in patterns or dispersed randomly throughout the parent rock.
RESOURCES
Wikipedia - Liesegang rings
Wikipedia - Iron-rich sedimentary rocks
Google Images - Iron staining in rocks