Heading up the trail I hopped up on this rock to take a picture when I saw this Feature. I hope you enjoy the lesson and the same view I had. And after you read the lesson and visit the area you will begin to see these all over the landscape.
Questions to answer for your smiley
1) From the lesson, what is one use for these naturally occurring BASINS
2) After reading the lesson what causes these type of features?
3) At the top at GZ and observing this PANHOLE, describe what you see. Is there any evidence that this basin is expanding? Becoming larger?
4) As of June 2019, earthcaches can now contain required photo logging tasks. Please provide a photo of yourself, your GPSr, or a personal item that proves that you have visited this site. PLEASE NO SPOILER PICTURES, You can take this photo when you are back on the ground and can use the side of the rock as your background.
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) if your answers are WAY off, I’ll contact you. Otherwise, please log your find after sending me your answers. In the e-mail, or through messaging ,please indicate your geocaching name and include the names of other geocachers with you. Logging it as found without providing your answers AND uploading a photo may result in the log being deleted without notice. According to the guidelines, sending the answers is a requirement, not a request.
The Lesson
PANHOLE
A panhole is a depression or basin eroded into flat or gently sloping cohesive rock. Similar terms for this feature are gnamma or rock holes, armchair hollows, weathering pans (or pits) and solution pans.
“In the quiet solitude of a rock hole, one can witness the slow, silent work of time and erosion.” - Rachel Carson
Panholes are erosional or destructional features that are developed in a variety of climatic environments and in a wide range of rock types. These shallow basins, or closed depressions, are quite commonly well developed in surfaces of granitic rocks and sandstone . They are generally characterized by flat bottoms and sometimes by overhanging sides. Some panholes were at one time thought to be man-made because their roundness was so perfect they were argued not be natural and must have been shaped by humans.
“The rock hole is a testament to nature’s relentless persistence, carving shapes and stories into the bedrock over millennia.” - John Muir
Panholes are most commonly found in desert enviroments. Panholes are capable of collecting water when it rains, freezing over when the weather gets cold, dry out in hotter weather, and can even contain some species of bacteria,lichens , mosses, and blue -green algae. Panholes range in size from a few centimeters to many meters in diameter. The cavities can be shallow or more than 15 meters (49 ft) deep. The Australian Aboriginal term gnamma, in particular, implies a depression capable of holding water in arid areas, forming an important water resource for Aboriginal people that needed to be carefully maintained.
Rock holes, found across various landscapes, are more than just depressions in rock surfaces; they are indicators of natural processes and environmental conditions. For instance, a geologist studying rock holes in a desert environment can gather data on erosion patterns, water retention capabilities, and even local wildlife reliance on these natural water sources.
Resources Used
A) Panhole - Wikipedia
B) Rock Hole: Definition, Examples & Quiz | UltimateLexicon.com
C) Geological Features - City Of Rocks National Reserve (U.S. National Park Service)
