THIS IS AN EARTHCACHE. As such, there is no container to find, and no log to sign. You will need to visit the location, read the lesson, and complete the tasks in order to log credit for this "find."
Tasks
There are four tasks you will need to complete in order to log this earthcache. Please send me the answers to the following via the "Send Answers" button before you log your find:
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In your own words, explain what geological forces shaped this area into a sandstone glade and some of the contributing factors to its development.
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Take a closer look at one area you identify as having soil. Based on visual observation, what do you estimate is the depth of the soil here? What is the approximate diameter of the soil bed that you have identified?
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Looking around at the sandstone beneath you, can you identify any places where there may be new soil and new growth in the future? Is there any evidence of new soil beds forming?
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Take a photo of yourself, your group, or your totem item at GZ and post that picture along with your log.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Important Things to Note ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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| Posted Coordinates |
N 33° 23.004′ W 86° 50.540′ |
| Location |
Moss Rock Preserve (public land, free access) |
| Parking / Trail Access |
N 33° 22.920′ W 86° 50.398′ |
| Recommended Hike |
~1 mile loop (trail-dependent). Follow cross trails until you find the white trail, which connects to the blue trail. The blue trail leads directly to the sandstone glade. Many trail maps are available to plan your route and the geocaching app trail map is a pretty good guide. Getting to GZ may require some creative thinking and agility. The terrain rating reflects this challenge. |
| Best Conditions |
Dry day or 24 hours after rain (wet sandstone is slippery and more dangerous to traverse). |
| Environmental Concerns |
Step only on the sandstone while in the glade. Foot traffic and soil compaction is dangerous to these vulnerable species of flora. |
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With Silver Bells, and Cockle Shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
EarthCache Lesson
How DOES this garden grow? Perhaps you are asking yourself, "WHAT GARDEN?"
Once you reach GZ, this landscape may seem like a barren rockscape in which a few weeds have persisted like dandelions in a city sidewalk. This may lead you to miss the fact that this is a delicate geological rarity, of which there are estimated to only be 35 known to exist.
When you think of a glade, perhaps you think of a lush, velvety green space, surrounded by trees. In reality, a glade is any open area that is surrounded by forest, and this happens to be a geological formation called a sandstone glade.
The same processes of sandstone creation that lead to the massive boulderfields below also created this unique ecosystem. However, the tectonic forces that pushed up the boulders, fracturing the sandstone and breaking it into sizeable chunks below merely lifted this sandstone slab at an angle, repositioning it mostly intact and at a gentle slope, creating this unusual geologic formation.
Let's examine the forces at play on this exposed bedrock surface!
Geological Forces Impacting this Sandstone Glade
This chart contains a description of potential forces that could have shaped the formation of this glade and those that continue to shape the landscape here, even in small ways.
Term
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Description/Meaning
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Effect on this Sandstone Glade
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| Dip Angle |
The angle of the slope of the surface of the exposed sandstone bedrock.
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There is a slight, but significant, bedrock slope, steep enough to allow for rapid water run-off, but not so steep that it prevents all soil collection. |
| Sandstone Hardness |
Sandstone is a relatively hard sedimentary rock, but still susceptible to slow erosion over time. |
Water passes over this bedrock fairly easily, but over time the force of the water and smaller rocks can make changes in the rock's surface. |
| Erosion |
Water and wind carry away small particles of silt, rock, and organic matter. |
Erosion has two effects upon this glade. First, it prevents significant soil accumulation, washing or blowing away the particles that could create a soil layer. Second, it eats away at the rock face, creating small pockets that can accumulate thin layers of soil. |
| Pothole Formation |
Potholes are formations in the bedrock that are created when water carries small rocks or grit along the surface of the rock. This rapid water run off can create small eddies that swirl in particular areas and grind holes in the rock below. |
Pothole formation is key to the creation of soil pockets on this glade, allowing spaces for deposition of sands and silts that are not easily washed away by water moving across the surface. |
| Deposition |
Water drops sediment and sand as it passes over holes and crags or as it loses energy. |
Deposition of sand and silt is an important contributor to the soil pockets that do exist on this glade. |
| Organic Matter |
The forest surrounding this glade produces organic matter that is dropped/blown/washed across the surface of this bedrock. |
Organic matter nearby contributes to the nutrients of the sand that is deposited here, developing a thin, but rich, soil. |
Bonus: Unique Biology
While not important to the EarthCache lesson above, it would be a shame if you visited this area and did not realize how close you are to some rare species of plants that are present here in the glade. Many naturally occuring bonsai trees are growing here as a result of the harsh conditions and the rocky terrain, resulting in twisted and aged looking forms of longleaf pine and blackjack oak.
Hopefully you are lucky enough to visit while some of the smaller plants are flowering, during which time they are easily identifiable. While certainly not an exhaustive list, these are a couple of highlights of what you can see growing around you. For more information on the flora and fauna here in Moss Rock Preserve, see the attached document in my References Cited section below!
Species
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Quick Facts
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Photo
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Nuttall's Rayless Goldenrod
(Bigelowia nuttallii)
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- Small, grassy shrub with yellow flowering head in a flat-topped array.
- Grows well in arid, sandy environments that receive lots of rain in winter months and generally have dry summers.
- Blooms in mid-summer to late fall.
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Smallhead Blazing Star
(Liatris microcephala)
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- Small flowering plant with grass-like leaves and produces small purple flower stalks.
- Grows well in acidic, sandy soils, particularly well known to thrive in acidic sandstone areas.
- Blooms in late summer, early fall.
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References Cited:
Dr. Richard Carroll, Geologist and Paleobotanist, University of Alabama and the Alabama Geological Survey, provided on site analysis and discussion during a field excursion to the site.
Wills, Ken. Friends of Moss Rock Preserve. Published by the city of Hoover, AL. December 22, 2015. Plants and Animals of Moss Rock Preserve