DIP is the acute angle that a rock bed, layer or strata makes with a horizontal plane. STRIKE is the direction of the line formed by the intersection of a rock surface with a horizontal plane. Strike and dip are always perpendicular to each other.
When the banded limestone at GZ formed on the flat surface of an ocean floor the rock strata would have had a dip angle of 0° and a directionless strike. It was when the rock was tilted that the strata in the rock formation gained a dip angle and a strike direction. The weathered limestone at the base of the Myponga Beach cliffs clearly shows the angle of the bedding or rock strata. The dip angle is the direction of rock pointing into the ground. The strike is the direction of the plane of the strata.
Strike and dip are determined in the field with a compass and a clinometer or a combination of the two. Smartphone apps are available to provide angle measurements. Combined with GPS functionality to determine orientation measurements the strike and dip of exposed strata can simply be measured.
Dip is reported as an angle. Strike is reported as a compass bearing or cardinal direction, ie N, S, E, W. Note strike could be either of two directions so the right hand rule is used. When your right hand is positioned on the tilted rock with the fingers pointing down the dip then the strike is the direction of the your thumb.
At the listed coordinates you are asked to measure the dip and strike of the limestone strata. Don't forget the right hand rule. Please forward you answers to the cache owner by email or message. Tell us how you made these measurements.
Dip = ? degrees
Strike = ? bearing
