Over 300 million years ago during an era known as the Pennsylvanian Period, Kansas was covered by a shallow sea that stretched from what is now the western portion of the Rocky Mountains to the modern Atlantic seaboard. This sea was flat and shallow, with many marshy emergent areas and islands. It was in these marshes that the vast coal resources that stretch from Utah to West Virginia were formed. These coal, gas and oil reserves are found throughout Southeast Kansas today.
These shallow seas were subjected to frequent changes in sea level, most likely due to fluctuating global glacier melting, common throughout the period in Northeast Kansas.
Today these sediments form the limestones and shales that are seen in road cuts and quarries throughout the southeastern portion of Kansas.
Geologically, the Osage Cuestas was formed here, composed of marine sediments deposited.
The Fort Scott Plateau was formed by a number of processes, including upwelling of Magma rises from the mantle, causing the ground to swell upward; in this way, large, flat areas of rock were uplifted. As the shallow sea resided rivers were formed and cut into the limestone forming deep river cuts around the Plateau upon which you are standing by forms of erosions.
To collect this Earthcache, Please perform the following tasks and answer the questions accordingly.
1. At Ground Zero, look through the fence and you will see the steep sides of the Plateau. What is the estimated height? How was this created?
2. During which Geologic Time and Epoch Period was this area formed. How old is the rock base and what types are they?
3. Geologically, what area is this plateau located in? How was it formed?
Please email the answers to questions to GreyGhosts54.
Congatulations to ZROZRO7 for FTF!