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:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- log signature picture are required to post a find for this cache.
1. MESSAGE …. a. Type of weathering that is sculpting this rock. / b. Explain your choice.
2. MESSAGE …. Give two differences between the rock in 2008 (posted picture) and the rock at the time of your visit.
3. LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item at or near the coordinates. Post a picture of your rock sculpture. These pictures are your log signature. No spoiler pics..
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Discover another rock sculpture in/around the ANF, Give coordinates. Name your rock sculpture. If you found your rock sculpture at a geocache/earthcache site, give name of the cache and GC number instead of cooordinates.
DISCOVERY CONTEST - Write a legend about your sculpture. ... If your discovery rock/photo/legend is selected, you will be given the opportunity to have it showcased here. You may then select a puzzle from my international collection. Use a variety of body parts to create your sculpture. EXAMPLE - See legend at end of this cache page.
B. 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.
C. 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 ... prose / story / poem / picture. 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
THANK YOU LN for travelling and hiking with RT to complete this Earthcache Trail.
WEATHERING IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
Both mechanical and chemical weathering continually change the rocks in the forest. It is this weathering process that is responsible for the many shapes and sculptures.
"Some 445 million years ago, what is now the Allegheny National Forest was submerged beneath a shallow, inland sea. Over time, weathered material eroded from ancient mountains in eastern Pennsylvania and filled in the sea floor. These deposits left large rocky outcrops, known as Olean conglomerates, which are seen throughout the Allegheny National Forest today. Mud and sand was also deposited, burying microscopic marine life and creating the rich oil deposits by which Pennsylvania would later become so well known." ANF
WEATHERING
Weathering is the breaking down of rock into smaller fragments. All rock weathers over time. Grains of sediment fall out. Cracks develop on the surface and deep inside. Weathering causes rocks to fracture, buckle, and crumble into soil and sediment. There are two types of weathering - mechanical and chemical.
MECHANICAL WEATHERING
Mechanical weathering breaks apart rocks without changing their chemical composition. Each fragment and particle weathered away by a mechanical process retains the same characteristics as the original rock.
TEMPERATURE - Different minerals expand and contract at varying rates. Temperature changes occur in both day-night and seasonal cycles. Frost shattering or ice wedging is due to the expansion of ice.
WIND - The abrasive action of wind causes separation of rock particles from the parent rock.
WATER - The abrasive action of water also causes separation of rock particles from the parent rock.
GRAVITY - As rocks tumble downward, abrasion causes separation of rock particles from parent rock.
PRESSURE - Plants take root in cracks in rocks and wedge them open as they grow. This increases the surface area for continual weathering by plants, wind, and water. Even large rocks can be split apart.
CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Chemical weathering occurs when water, air, and other substances react with the minerals in rock. In chemical weathering, the composition of the rock changes.
WATER - Water dissolves minerals in rocks, producing new compounds.
OXYGEN - Oxygen reacts with rocks, changing the color of rocks.
ACIDS - Produced when water reacts with the atmosphere.
LIVING ORGANISMS - Perform chemical reactions to obtain needed materials from rocks and soil. Plants give off organic acids as part of their life and decay processes. These acids help to break down rocks chemically. Decaying remains of dead animals in soil may form organic acids which, when dissolved in water, cause chemical weathering.
MECHANICAL/CHEMICAL WEATHERING
Additional agents of weathering are lightning strikes and burrowing animals. The type depends on whether the rocks are just physically altered -or- if their composition is altered.
RESOURCES ... Mechanical Weathering ... Chemical Weathering ... Biological Weathering
LEGEND - THE CITIZENS OF BINIX by Clayshaper
Once upon an Earthlike planet in a solar system not too far away (close enough for the residents to have visited Earth many times), there were three intelligent species.
Not fairly intelligent or passably intelligent, but, rocket scientist, quantum physicist, wormhole understanding intelligent. Every one of them.
Unfortunately, intelligence does not equal wisdom, or even commom sense. These three intelligent species spent hundreds of years trying to be top Karzet (a not-quite as intelligent species analagous to the canine family of Earth).
Wars, genocide and generally beastly behavior was the rule until all three species had fallen below a sustainable population. Shock! Consternation! Desperation!
Enter the geneticists.
Using:
The basic body configuration, ears and horn of the Wufrens (who, on ancient visits to our planet were the inspiration for the Centaur and the Unicorn).
The clawlike hands and feet, the beaklike lips and wings of the Vaeton (Harpies, anyone?)
The fins, eyes and hidden auxilliary gills of the only aquatic species, the three toed and fingered Capioliv. (The Earth legend of a sea god with a trident has its roots here.)
And, in what may have been pure whimsy or in an attempt to make Binixians more attractive to the natives of other Earth-like planets, the scientists added hair. (Genetic source unknown.)
So, there are no more wars on Binix. There is a stable, sustainable population of rather awkward, but totally equal, citizens who regard the tiny genetic differences found in Earth's dominant species with a sort of paternal, or maternal, condescension.
Oh, and on the subject of paternal/maternal, that too was homogenized. Binixians are now both, and, in their maternal monents lay a single, ambient temperature incubation, egg so that no one has to assume a gender role (shudder) to hatch the next generation.
So now, a representative (and offspring) is here to greet us. His/her intentions really are peacefull and friendly.
But remember...
Only one species can be top Karzet.
