DLA2018 Naturally Weathered or Eroded
Welcome Geocachers to Mellon Lake, as you enjoy the beauty and natural surroundings
you may have accidentally paddled past a unique Geological feature.
WEATHERED
Rocks, minerals, soils normally change their structure under the action or influence of certain environmental forces.
Biological activity, extreme weather, and agents of erosion such as water, wind and ice are examples of
environmental forces that influences the continuous breakdown,
wearing away and loosening of rocks and soils.
This is what is termed as weathering.
Weathering is thus the process where rocks or soils are dissolved or worn away into smaller
and smaller pieces due to particular environmental factors such as the examples given above.
In geological terms, weathering is defined as the disintegration of rocks influenced by animal and plant life,
water, and the atmospheric forces in general.
Weathering is different from erosion.
EROSION
While erosion is the process by which soil and rock particles are worn away and moved elsewhere by wind,
water or ice, weathering involves no moving agent of transport.
It is the process of breakdown of rocks at the Earth’s surface, either by extreme temperatures or rainwater or biological activity.
It simply does not involve any movement of rock material.
Using the Description given to you above, answer the following 4 questions and
send the answers to me via my Geocaching account.
Once the answers are sent, please log this Earth Cache as found.
1) At the posted coordinates is the rock Weathered or Eroded? Explain your answer.
2)What caused this wear in the rock?
3) In your opinion will it get worse?
4) Why is this location worn, but not the other rocks in the area
5)Measure the top of worn arch to the waters surface what is the height.
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This Geocache is among many being hidden for Discover L&A Mega Event
taking place on August 18th, 2018. All DLA2018 Geocaches
will be published on August 13th, 2018 to allow time for non-locals
to build PQ's and routes.
DLA2018 participants are encouraged to wait until Saturday at 9am to find this
cache.