Before You Begin
This cache is truly for everyone! So why is it called a "kids' cache"? Because the earth science lesson is written to be accessible for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. A little help may be needed, but hopefully they themselves can answer the required logging questions. It also leads you on a short hike to a kid-friendly location to enjoy playing, splashing, and swimming in the water. When you go, it's suggested to pack snacks, a towel, clothes and shoes that can get wet, a minnow net, and something to sift the sand. On a warm sunny day, it's easy for kids to spend a couple of hours at the site of this EarthCache.
Park off of Harriet Tubman Lane at the provided coordinates. Grab your gear and start your hike. There are four waypoints provided. These are to help you find the most direct route to the Middle Patuxent River and learn about mica. Once at the river, children can read a kid-friendly earth science lesson about mica, including questions that they themselves should be able to answer. They will also get to look for this mineral in the river. The logging requirements are at the end of the Description. And yes, you may need to get your feet wet to log this cache!
Keep in mind that during or after a rain when the water is higher and flowing quickly, this may not be the best time to search for mica in the river. A calm, sunny day when the water is clear and you can easily see the bottom may lead to a better chance in spotting the mineral. Hope you are able to find some - good luck!
This EarthCache takes you on Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks trails. Per Howard County guidelines, as no physicial container was hidden, there was no formal approval needed.
Mica in the Middle Patuxent
The Middle Patuxent River is a great place to look for mica. Mica is shiny! Sometimes it looks like it sparkles. It is a special mineral because it is very elastic. This means it is flexible and can bend. It also can be split into thin plates very easily. When found together, these plates are called "books" because they look like the pages in a book. Mica can be all different colors. The mica found in Central Maryland looks silver.
There are different types of mica around the world. The most common type is called muscovite. This is what you will find at the Middle Patuxent River. Mica is a mineral made up of many elements like oxygen, silicon, and aluminum. Mica does not conduct heat. That means it does not let heat move through it. Because of this, mica is found in many things we use to build houses like walls and the covers on electrical wires.
Mica can be found in a rock or by itself. It was brought to this spot by the river. If you find it in a big rock, the river brought it here by rolling the rock on the bottom. This is called traction. If you find it in a small rock, the river brought it here by bouncing the rock on the bottom. This is called saltation. If you find a piece of mica by itself, the water carried it here in its current. This is called suspension. In deep parts of the river where water moves slow it cannot carry rocks or mica. It drops them to rest on the bottom. This is called deposition.
A picture of a book of mica that was found in this river is below. Now find some mica yourself! Look at the rocks in the Middle Patuxent River or on the river bank. Do you see any mica in the rocks? Walk out into the river and look down. Do you see any mica on the bottom of the River? After you have some time to look, help your parents answer the questions below to show you visited this EarthCache.
Logging Requirements
Tell your parents if they want to get credit, they should send answers to the questions below and take a picture. You should help them answer the questions. Make sure they send the answers but do NOT post them in their geocache log!
1. Plates of mica can be found in "books." Why are these called books?
2. Is it easy for mica to get hot?
3. If you found mica today, did you find it in a rock, by itself, or both? What did you look for to spot this mica?
4. How deep is the water where you are standing? Is it moving fast or slow? Do you think there is a lot of deposition where you are standing?
5. Middle Patuxent selfie! Take a picture of yourself or your GPS in the river with any mica you found. Post it or send it along with your answers to the questions.