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 …. Observe the stratification at the posted coordinates. What caused formation of these tilted layers? Does it appear like it will continue this way to ground level.
2. MESSAGE …. Observe the stratification at the waypoint coordinates. Does what you thought for question 1 still hold true? Explain.
3. MESSAGE …. What three geological principles are at work to produce this rock formation?
4. LOG …. Post a picture of another rock face 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
THE MYSTERY
Observiations from different perspectives often causes a change in the way we think.
STRATIFICATION
The layered rock structure is due to changes in deposition of sediment. This is a result of several factors. One is the type of sediment deposited. Another is due to fluctuations in the depositional agent, in this case river currents.
The Law of Original Horizontality states that deposition occurs horizontally. Any variation is due to other factors causing the rocks to alter their position.
The Law of Superposition states that the oldest layers are on the bottom and the youngest layers are on top. Any variation is due to other factors causing the rocks to alter their position.
Bedding is the sequence of strata that characterizes sedimentary rocks.
Cross-bedding aka cross-stratification is layering at an angle to the main bedding plane. Cross-bedding forms during deposition on inclined surfaces such as ripples. The original depositional layering is tilted indicating that the despoitional environment contained flowing water.
Differential Erosion causes the softer rock (sandstone) to erode faster than the more resistant rock (conglomerate), thus causing gaps.
RESOURCES ... Rock City Park ... University of Pittsburgh Bradford Educational Resource Guide