When you arrive to GZ you can see that on the left you have a canal that runs from East to west. This is going to be where we going to start our lesson. As we walk along the canal we will see many different things but the one thing we see is rocks, rocks, rocks and not a single one to grab. Limestone is a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral, forams and mollusks. Its major materials are the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate.
The water is Miami all travel by canal or sewers. Most of the canal area in Miami have been covered to make room for roads and new additions that have been made. This is a small section of the many canals that can be found around Miami. The water's striking turquoise color is caused by the limestone bedrock. The limestone leaches calcite crystals into the water, turning its color a bright turquoise. Dissolved particles such as tannins (a yellowish-brown organic acid that is found in plant tissues) or particles of iron and manganese from rocks or soil. Iron, manganese and calcium carbonate from limestone are all common minerals that can cause water to range in color from red and orange to green and blue.
SIDE NOTE:
The habitat in AD Barnes is a remnant of what used to occur there. As Miami was being developed, areas of Slough (Transverse Glade) were most frequently converted to canals. Also to the south of your position you can see the vegetation is a disturbed “prairie” of sorts, where marl prairie or slough once abutted the land.
FTF HONORS- Africacher
Please answer the following questions and submit them to the CO via message:
1. What is the type of rock and color you see at reference point A?
2. Approaching the Canal at Reference Point B tell me what is the water coloration up close?
3. Based on your observation and the cache description, what minerals do you believe are present in the water here?
3. *OPTIONAL* Post a Non-Spoiler photo of yourself at the posted coords.
Reference Sources:
- geology.com/rocks/limestone: Limestone Rock
- news-leader.com/story/sports/outdoors/2015/01/21/green-turquoise-brown-water-color-differs/22125369/: Water
