Split Apple Rock is located in the waters of the Tasman Sea. The walk will take about 15 minutes from the carpark on Tokongawa Drive. It is approximately 50 meters off the coast between Kaiteriteri and Marahau.
This Earth Cache is accessible by wading at low tide as it sits in the shallow water or via water vessel. Please make sure of your water safety at all times.
Split Apple Rock is located within the Tasman District, a large area at the western corner of the north end of the South Island of New Zealand. It covers 9,786 square kilometres and is bounded on the west by the Matiri Ranges, Tasman Mountains and the Tasman Sea. The landscape is diverse, from large mountainous areas to valleys and plains, and is sliced by such major rivers as the Buller, Motueka, Aorere, Takaka and Wairoa. The area is know for it's rich limestone and for its extensive cave networks.
The Tasman Region, and the small adjoining Nelson Region, form one of the more geologically interesting regions of New Zealand. It contains the oldest rocks of anywhere on New Zealand’s main islands. It contains all the main terranes that make up New Zealand’s basement. These basement rocks include Ultramafic rocks, such as Serpentine and Dunite, and valuable minerals, such as Gold.
There are a number of stories exist for the occurrence of Split Apple Rock. One is a Maori legend fighting over the possession of a larger boulder, and matter was resolved by cutting him into two pieces. Stories told by geologists describe that water seeped into rock during ice age and froze, ultimately splitting the rock in half.
Granitic rock is widely distributed throughout the continental crust. The continental crust is the layer of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks that forms the continents and the areas of shallow seabed close to their shores, known as continental shelves.
Granite is predominantly white, pink, or gray in color, depending on their mineralogy. Strictly speaking, granite is an igneous rock with between 20% and 60% quartz by volume, and at least 35% feldspar.
The following questions can be answered once you are at the 'Split Apple' .
Questions
Q1 Estimate the size of the 'Apple' as you stand near it.
Q2 Explore the 'Apple' core and describe both insides of the rock in detail; color, grain & texture and describe the differences you see in both halves.
Once you complete the EarthCache requirements you can post your find without delay, as per the EarthCache guidelines. You will also need to verify your find by sending me a message and provide your answers to the questions.
For a link to my profile, click here - Na'wal
Thanks for visiting this Earth Cache. Hope you enjoy the location.
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References ~ Geology.com, explore NZ & Wikipedia