Welcome To The Raven's Rock Overlook, one of the many hidden gems located in the Coopers Rock State Park Forest. This unique earthcache will take you to one of the best views in the mountain state - one you won't soon forget. This is a very popular spot for the magnificent view of the Cheat Gorge, but not many people stop to think about the geology of where they are standing. While it might not look like much initially, there are actually FIVE unique geological lessons that can be observed at the overlook. Each lesson leads to the next to sculpt the natural beauty of the area. Take some time to learn about each geological feature and then head out to answer the five questions below to log this earthcache. 

In the waypoints below, I have included helpful parking areas, as well as the trailhead. The total hike is about three miles round trip over varied terrain. Save some energy for the final incline, it is a killer. Please note, between the months of January - March, the main gate is closed for winter maintenance. If you intend to visit this cache during those months, anticipate walking about seven miles round trip. Raven Rock in the winter is a completely different world that is well worth the trek to experience. 

WEATHERING

It comes as no surprise the face of this rock is susceptible to fierce amounts of weathering. Weathering is the process where rock is dissolved, worn away, or broken down into smaller and smaller pieces. There are mechanical, chemical, and organic weathering processes.

Mechanical weathering physically breaks up the rock. One example is called frost action or frost shattering. Water gets into cracks and joints in bedrock. When the water freezes it expands and the cracks are opened a little wider. Over time, pieces of rock can split off a rock face and big boulders are broken into smaller rocks and gravel.

Organic weathering happens when plants break up rocks with their growing roots or plant acids help dissolve rock.

Chemical weathering decomposes or decays rocks and minerals. An example of chemical weathering is water dissolving limestone.

EROSION

Erosion is defined as the set of natural processes that loosen, remove and transport weathered or unweathered solid material such as soil, sediment, mud, regolith, rock fragments, and other particles from the landscape by downhill or downwind displacement. The mediums required for material displacement can be wind, running water, waves, ice (glaciers), underground water, and gravity. As erosion moves weathered solid material, it exposes fresh, unaltered rock to weathering. In some places, erosion is increased by human land use.

Wind erosion is referred to as eolian erosion. Differences in atmospheric pressure will cause the motion of air that can erode surface material when velocities are high enough to move particles. Eolian erosion is more pronounced in dry regions and in areas where there is insufficient rainfall to support vegetation and root systems. Wind cannot carry as large particles as flowing water, but easily pick up dry particles of soil, sand, and dust and carries them away. Wind generally causes erosion by deflation and/or abrasion. Windbreaks are often planted by farmers to reduce wind erosion.

DEPOSITION

Deposition is the geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass. Wind, ice, water, and gravity transport previously weathered surface material, which, at the loss of enough kinetic energy in the fluid, is deposited, building up layers of sediment.

Deposition occurs when the forces responsible for sediment transportation are no longer sufficient to overcome the forces of gravity and friction, creating resistance to motion; this is known as the null-point hypothesis. Deposition can also refer to the buildup of sediment from organically derived matter or chemical processes. For example, chalk is made up partly of the microscopic calcium carbonate skeletons of marine plankton, the deposition of which has induced chemical processes (diagenesis) to deposit further calcium carbonate. Similarly, the formation of coal begins with the deposition of organic material, mainly from plants, in anaerobic conditions.

ROCK STACK

A stack is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock formed by erosion. Stacks are formed over time by wind and water. The force of the wind and water weakens cracks in the headland, causing them to later collapse, forming free-standing stacks and even a small island. Without the constant presence of water, stacks also form when a natural arch collapses under gravity, due to sub-aerial processes like wind erosion. Erosion causes the arch to collapse, leaving the pillar of hard rock standing away from the coast—the stack. Eventually, erosion will cause the stack to collapse, leaving a stump. Stacks can provide important nesting locations for birds, and many are popular for rock climbing.

STAINING

Discoloration of the limestone, whether general or localized, is staining. Staining may be the result of exposure to a variety of exterior substances or to internal occlusions in the stone or structural elements. After a while of exposure, sandstone goes from this pale yellow to a grey or even grey-black. This could be caused by grease/oil stains, natural dyes, or organic material.

Logging Requirements

To obtain credit for this earthcache, you will need to visit the rock formation at Coopers Rock State Park and answer questions about the area. The answers can be found by using the information on the cache page and your observations at the posted coordinates. Please send me a message with the five answers before logging this earthcache. 

1. What type of weathering is most present at the overlook?

2. Observe the edges of the rock, is erosion occurring and what effect is it having on the landscape of the overlook?

3. Look over the face of the rock, describe the deposition. Why is this happening?

4. Hypothesize how the stack at the posted coordinates formed. Estimate the width of the gap, do you think it will continue to expand?

5. Is staining present on the stack? Why?

THANKS FOR VISITING!