This cache is in the beautiful Secrest Arboretum on the campus of Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center- I love this place.
Billions of years ago rocks of granite in the Canadian Shield of southeastern Ontario were buried to a depth where increased pressure and temperature caused minerals to segregate into light and dark bands. The metamorphosied rock called Gneiss was then fractured and the shield was uplifted and eroded. During the ice ages this boulder was nudged and transported south and deposited into Cuyahoga river valley. Permission for this Earthcache was kindly given by the office of the Campus Director and information provided in this cache is found on the signage provided at GZ by the OARDC (more information can be found in the book "Ohio Rocks" by Albert B. Dickas)
To log this cache please answer the following questions from information provided at GZ and take a selfie at one of the reference points provided.
- What color are the bands of rock.
- what is the geological name for these bands.
- What is the geological definition of the word "Boulder"?
- How did the bands end up the color that we see today.
- What type of rock covers Ohio granite in this area.
- Take a photo (does not need to be of you & but selfies are great if you wish) across the street at the statue of whooping cranes (no boulder pictures please due to spoilers) or in the other photo locations (see reference points) . Any photos of the boulder will result in the log being deleted due to spoilers.
- Have Fun these gardens are amazing to explore. If you walk further up Williams road you will see a small redwood forest (on dawn redwood road to your left)-in OHIO!!-called the dawn redwoods. Amazingly beautiful and interesting story behind them.