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This River Rocks EarthCache

Hidden : 9/13/2019
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   other (other)

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Geocache Description:


This is an EarthCache and has special requirements for logging it.  You cannot log a Found It without responding to the logging requirements set out below. 

Only one find claim per Message. Each Geocacher claiming a find must submit an individual response. One team can not lodge a response on behalf of a group of people.


Hopefully, after visiting this site, you will have an expanded appreciation of the wonders of our natural environment, and recognise that the environment here has a rather rare geological feature.


Getting there

The coordinates will locate you in the middle of the Barcoo River.  The coordinates are also along a walking trail called The Coolibah Walk along the banks of the Barcoo River.  The walk is part of another Mystery Cache.  There is also another Earth Cache along this trail.

If you wish to complete all three caches, the best parking is found at Parking Area 1.

If you wish to complete just THIS Earth Cache, you have two options:

Park at Parking Area 2. The road beyond Parking Area 2 is impassible in WET WEATHER.  NOTE:  DO NOT attempt this cache if the river is flowing over the rocks at GZ.  You won't see anything anyway.

If it is DRY WEATHER you might be able to get all the way to Parking Area 3

The Theory

Conglomerate is a clastic (composed of broken pieces of older rocks) sedimentary (formed from sediment deposited by water or air) rock that is formed by the accumulation of rock fragments greater than 2 millimetre in size. The rock fragments that forms the conglomerate are round in shape.

Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock composed of large angular fragments (over two millimeters in diameter).

The pore spaces in between the clast of a rock are filled by the finer particles usually silt and clay or any other cementing material that binds the rock fragments together.

Conglomerate can be formed of any rock material that is transported through time and space from the origin area to accumulation area. The rounded rock fragments is the proof of transportation of the rock fragments in the conglomerate. The rock fragments of the conglomerate can be derived from igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rocks. The chemical binding material can be sand, silt or chemical cement like calcite or quartz.

The angular fragments in breccia are the indicators that they are not subjected to transportation or else it would be round rather than angular. When these angular fragments accumulate at an area then the pore spaces are filled by small fine grained particles or cementing material. These bind them together.

Sand is composed of large particles, making it excessively coarse. Silt is made of much smaller particles and is slippery to the touch. Calcite is a white or colourless mineral consisting of calcium carbonate. It is a major constituent of sedimentary rocks such as limestone.  Quartz has a glassy luster and is almost always clear or white.

The Observation

At the given coordinates, you can see the rocks which form a crossing over the Barcoo River, as in this photo.

Examine the surface of the rocks here, keeping in mind the notes you have read above.  Use your senses of touch and sight.
You will be asked about the texture of the rock - where the texture of a rock is the size, shape, and arrangement of the grains

The Logging Task

1.  Is the rock here conglomerate or breccia?

2.  What rock texture do you see here?

3.  What is the chemical binding material in these rocks?

4.  Take of photo of yourself OR your GPS to show a view of GZ.  Include it in your message, but please do not post it in your log, it might give too much away.

When you have your response to the above questions, please, if possible, Message us, using the link at the top of the page underneath the name of the Cache. We prefer the Message method, as apparently, we don't respond to emails very well, but messages we do. We will contact you by Message once your Message has been received.

But please log your Found It smiley in the meantime, and just say that you have Messaged your answers to the CO. We do reply to all logs within a reasonable time, and if there is a problem with your answers, we will ask you for further clarification.

Happy Earthcaching!

 

Additional Hints (No hints available.)