Sarakiniko EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
Sarakiniko
Milos born in the Aegean Sea because of earthquakes, tsunamis and submarine volcanic eruptions. This long volcanic history makes this island the paradise of the lovers of the geology.
One of the most attractive attractions is Sarakiniko on Milos. It can be located on the north coast, where the white rock formations are flashing in the sunlight. These rocks are formed from white diatomite and pumice tuffs, alternating with thinner layers of greyer pumice tuffs and yellow pliocene limestone. Differential wind and water erosion sculpted these soft layers into different shapes. The horizontal layers are clearly seen.
Pumice is created when super-heated, highly pressurized rock is violently ejected from a volcano. The unusual foamy configuration of pumice happens because of simultaneous rapid cooling and rapid depressurization. The depressurization creates bubbles by lowering the solubility of gases (including water and CO2) that are dissolved in the lava, causing the gases to rapidly exsolve (like the bubbles of CO2 that appear when a carbonated drink is opened).
It is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals. It is typically light colored.
Limestone sedimentary rocks formed mainly from the minerals calcite or dolomite. Many limestones are derived from the shells of dead marine organisms. Others are formed by chemical precipitation from marine and other waters saturated with calcium carbonate. Although it occurs in many different forms, its origins can be traced back to either chemical or biochemical processes that occurred in the geological past, often tens to hundreds of millions of years ago.
The color of the limestone is very varied depending on its material composition. Pure limestone with high carbonate content is white. Grayscale is caused by clay or organic matter. The yellow, red, brown-coloured limestones are coloured by Fe3+. (Source: Wikipedia)
To log yor visit, please send your answers via my geocaching.com's profile to me. Please don’t give answers in your log.
- What is the material of the basin (the "beach") which itself is a narrow canal cut into the rocks?
- What gives the white colour to these rocks?
- Can you find any fossils or failures in the white stones? If any, please describe how it can be happened.
Uploaded photos with you and/or your GPS in the background with Sarakiniko's white rocks are welcome.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)