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 Dr. Ovidiu D. Franţescu @ Pitt Bradford for your help with this earthcache.
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 …. Posted coordinates ... What color staining is visible on the rock? What caused this staining?
2. MESSAGE …. Waypoint coordinates ... What color staining is visible on the rock? What caused this staining?
3. LOG …. Post a picture of another example of staining 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
STAINING
Most sedimentary rocks contain iron in varying degrees. This mineral may appear in patterns or dispersed randomly throughout the parent rock. Pyrite and pyrrhotite, predominantly reddish in color, are quickly decomposed by chemical weathering forming the iron minerals hematite and limonite. These minerals impart stains of red, orange and brown to the rock surface. Iron sulfate minerals also form and impart cream colored to yellowish stains.
Manganese also causes black staining on rocks when it is exposed to air and water.
Biological organisms cause staining due to chemicals released in their daily life-sustaining activities.
RESOURCES ... Rock City Park ... University of Pittsburgh Bradford Educational Resource Guide