ROCK CITY PARK
Adults $5.00 / Seniors $4.00 / Children 6-12 $3.00
Open Memorial Day to Labor Day from 9 to 5
THIS IS SEASONAL, BUT KEEPING IT ACTIVE FOR THOSE PLANNING A VISIT.
THANK YOU Cindy Smith (Park Director) and Dale Smith (Park Ranger) for permission to share this earthcache site.
THANK YOU University of Pittsburgh Bradford for the educational guide.
Enjoy your stroll and learning adventure as you wind your way around "gigantic rock formations". If you have all the required pictures, see Cindy or Dale for a special gift.
EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
1. MESSAGE …. This area has a lot of name carvings. Using your compass, the carvings that are most easy to read are located on a rock face that points to North, South, East, or West? Explain.
2. MESSAGE …. Choose two carvings, with the similar dates if possible. a. What is carved? / b. Use the chart to identify what is seen (1-6). / Which carving has been weathered the most? Explain.
3. LOG …. Does the historical and/or geologic information outweigh the environmental aspect of the carvings? Explain your position.
4. LOG …. Post a picture of another carving anywhere along the trail, but NOT at the coordinates. This picture is your log signature.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
B. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
SUN vs SHADE
The Temperature in the shade isn't cooler than the temperature in the sunlight. In the shade, you may feel 10-15 degrees cooler, but the temperature is the exact same as the temperature in full sunlight. Shade only feels cooler because you are avoiding solar radiation.
The rocks, however, are a different temperature in the sun than in the shade due to the amount of solar radiation thay are absorbing. Those in direct sunlight expand as they heat, whereas the interiors and shaded areas do not. Differential expansion and contraction produces stresses which can result in cracks and physical weathering.
Also, there is a difference in weathering due to moisture. The sun exposed faces have less mositure than the sun shaded faces. The more moisture a rock retains, the more favorable environment it is for the growth of biological organisms, These organisms contribute to mechanical erosion by widening cracks, and to chemical erosion due to the acids produced.
VISUAL CLASSIFICATION CARVED LETTERING ... Meierding
- Lettering is sharp and distinct
- Lettering is slightly rounded but still legible and clear
- Lettering is legible but rounded with some edges clearly removed
- Lettering is rounded with all or most original edges removed. It is still legible, but becoming more indistinct from the surface of the grave
- Lettering is still just about legible, but now almost indistinguishable from the surface of the gravestone
- Lettering has virtually disappeared
VISUAL CLASSIFICATION CARVED LETTERING ... Rahn
- Lettering sharp and distinct.
- Lettering slightly rounded showing evidence of some removal of grains. Still legible and cleat though.
- Lettering rounded. Edges clearly being removed and some original edges removed completely. Still legible and clear.
- Lettering rounded. All or most original edges removed, but lettering still legible, but increasingly becoming indistinct from the surface of gravestone.
- Lettering disintegrating. Lettering still just about legible, but now almost indistinguishable from the surface of the gravestone.
- What lettering? Lettering virtually disappeared. Need to be able to make out date to be able to date period over which lettering has disappeared.
RESOURCES ... Rock City Park ... University of Pittsburgh Bradford Educational Resource Guide
Rahn, T. 1971. 'The weathering of tombstones and its relation to the topography of New England', Journal of Geological Education , 19 , 112-118.
Meierding, T.C., 1993. 'Inscription legibility method for estimating rock weathering', Geomorphology , 6 , 273-286.