Bimini’s first Earthcache: geological stone road of Bimini
Beachrock units form under a thin cover of sediment and generally overlie unconsolidated sand. They typically consist of multiple units, representing multiple episodes of cementation and exposure. The mineralogy of beachrocks is mainly high-magnesium calcite or aragonite. The main processes involved in the cementation are: supersaturation with CaCO3 through direct evaporation of seawater,[1] groundwater CO2 degassing in the vadose zone,[2] mixing of marine and meteoric water fluxes[3] and precipitation of micritic calcium carbonate as a byproduct of microbiological activity. [4]
There is only very little fossil beachrock, which can be explain, among other things due to a possible multiple transformation. [6]
On retreating coasts, outcrops of beachrock may be evident offshore where they may act as a barrier against coastal erosion. Beachrock presence can also induce sediment deficiency in a beach and out-synch its wave regime. Because beachrock is lithified within the intertidal zone and because it commonly forms in a few years, its potential as an indicator of past sea level is important. [5]
Beachrocks are located along the coastline in a parallel term and they are usually a few meters offshore. They are generally separated in several levels which may correspond to different generations of beachrock cementation. Thus, the older zones are located in the outer part of the formation when the younger ones are on the side of the beach, possibly under the unconsolidated sand. They also seem to have a general inclination to the sea (50 – 150). There are several appearances of beachrock formations which are characterized by multiple cracks and gaps. The result from this fact is an interruptible formation of separated blocks of beachrock, which may be of the same formation. The length of beachrocks varies from meters to kilometers, its width can reach up to 300 meters and its height starts from 30 cm and reaches 3 meters. [5]
Bimini is one of the Bahamian Islands 50 miles East of Miami, Florida. Just 20 feet from the coast under water was discovered stone ridge. Large flat stones, cut at right angles, it seems, were deliberately installed in a straight line. [6] This regular formations gave rise to speculation about human production.
Mysterious underwater formation [6]
What is the origin of the underwater “Bimini road”? It is the upper part of the wall the lost city of Atlantis? If it is a man-made structure, by whom and when it was created? Because of the strong Gulf stream, the complicated and dangerous research never completed. Many believe that the mysterious road, paved with stone slabs, is the remains of the mythical lost city of Atlantis. [6] Or it is just beachrocks?
Numerous expeditions of explorers, geologists, archaeologists and scientists have been off the coast of Bimini to explore the underwater flat stones, known as the Bimini road. They were looking for the answer to the question whether the blocks are a natural phenomenon or a man-made evidence of an ancient lost civilization.
It’s impressive education extends half a mile in length in a straight line and turns at one end. The stones are up to 13 ft (4 m) in diameter.
After the plane was discovered a mysterious underwater formation, rushed there are many divers, scuba divers. In 1968, archaeologist and oceanographer Manson Valentine announced the discovery at shallow depth (about several meters) paved roads or stone walls. Further studies revealed the existence of two rock formations, the first is almost parallel to the road.
After this discovery, it was linked with the prediction of the “sleeping” mystic Edgar Cayce, who saw future events while in a trance. In 1938, Edgar Cayce predicted that “Atlantis, or part of the temples rise from under sea water in the area of Bimini. It will be 68 or 69”. Bimini road was discovered in 1968, and many perceived this as the fulfillment of the prediction Cayce on lost Atlantis.
In 2006, the American TV channel conducted its own investigation and made a documentary about the underwater formations and their connection with the search for the lost city of Atlantis.
A team of divers under the first layer of stones found second. Moreover, the stones deeper layer was adapted to the much denser and had the same dimensions. This gave grounds to assume that the Bimini road is the upper part of a wall or other construction. [6]
Because of the strong Gulf stream in this area underwater work difficult and dangerous. Different expeditions have not done your research, several people were killed. [6] Today it is still a mystery. What do you think: Beachrock or the relicts of Atlantis?
References
- Scoffin, T.P. & Stoddart, D.R.: Beachrock and intertidal sediments, Chemical Sediments and Geomorphology, Academic Press, Inc., 1983
- Hanor, J.S.: Precipitation of Beachrock Cements: Mixing of Marine and Meteoric Waters Vs. Co2-Degassing, 1978
- Schmalz, R.F.: Formation of beachrock at Eniwetok Atoll, 1971
- Neumeier, U.: The role of microbial activity in early cementation of beachrocks (intertidal sediments), PhD Thesis, University of Geneva, 1998
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachrock, Jan. 2018
- http://earth-chronicles.com/histori/does-the-underwater-bimini-road-to-atlantis.html, Jan. 2018
To logg this Earthcache as "found", you have to answer following questions:
Listing – question:
1) From what mineralogy consists beachrock mainly?
Earthcache - Location
2) Describe is beachrock here: size, color, is it with or without fossils, …
Waypoint 1: The first waypoint is located at the famous “Bimini road” itself. It is not necessary to go, swim or dive to the first waypoint – it is no T5. Look in northeast direction, in this direction under the water is the Bimini road.
3) After reading the listing: What is your personal opinion: what is the Bimini Road? Beachrock or the relicts of Atlantis?
Waypoint 2. This additional, alternative location is very near to the EC-location itself. If you cannot go to the earthcache location itself due to bad weather, then go to this waypoint or near to this waypoint and give the answer for question 4 instead of 2.
Look in northwest direction: there you see the sister rocks in the ocean.
4) How many rocks do you see? Estimate the length of the rocks.
Please write your answers to: spacedoc@gmx.de
As subject: The Earthcache-name or GC-code and your Geocaching-name.
According to the Earthcache-Guidelines you are allowed to log immediately after sending the answers via e-mail. If something is wrong, I will write you.
About a picture, as is customary for Earthcaches, we'd be happy, but it is not a log-requirement (please, make a picture without the stones).
Travel remark: It is easily possible to make this Earthcache during a one day boot trip from Miami to Bimini.
For banner-fans:
html-code:
<div align="center"><a href="http://coord.info/GC7HD5K"><img width="200" height="50" border="0px" align src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/gs-geo-images/9dc816a2-2a26-42c9-98a0-7e1fdfbfab90.jpg" alt=" GC7HD5K"/></a></div>
