This EarthCache highlights rock weathering processes using a decorative fountain in the Downtown Disney District. Although the rockwork is human-constructed, it provides an excellent real-world example of how water, gravity, chemistry, and time interact with natural rock surfaces —demonstrating many of the same weathering processes seen in natural environments. The rocks used in this fountain have noticeably weathered after over 20+ years of near constant water flow.
Visitors will observe how constant flowing water alters rock surfaces, producing visible changes similar to that found in natural riverbeds, waterfalls, and coastal cliffs.
Types of Weathering
1. Mechanical (Physical) Weathering
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Flowing water repeatedly impacts ledges and grooves in the rock.
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Over time, this causes surface smoothing, rounding of edges, and small pits.
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Gravity pulls water downward, concentrating wear beneath overhangs and spill points.
2. Chemical Weathering
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Water interacts with minerals in the concrete and any embedded aggregates.
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Dissolved minerals may leave behind discoloration, streaking, or mineral deposits.
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Slight changes in water chemistry (such as acidity) can accelerate surface breakdown.
3. Biological Weathering (Limited but Present)
Weathering vs Errosion
Weathering is the process by which rock is broken down in place at Earth’s surface. It does not involve movement of the material.
👉 Key idea: The rock stays where it is
Erosion is the process by which weathered material is moved away from its original location. It does involve movement of the material.
👉 Key idea: The material is transported
What type of rocks make up the fountain?
The protuding rocks you see sticking out of the fountain wall are made of natural slate, a type of metamorphic rock formed by heat, pressure, and time from shale (a sedimentary rock which forms in deep oceanic water). Slate will erode in a predictable way due to the way the grains reorganized themselves during metamorphism, it will tend to break off in small thin sheets which is why you may see natural clean-cut surfaces.
Works Cited
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weathering
https://coord.info/GCBHJ2D
https://civilspedia.com/weathering-and-mass-movements/
https://www.geologyin.com/2014/05/the-formation-of-foliated-metamorphic.html
TO LOG A FIND ON THIS CACHE YOU MUST ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS BELOW. YOU CAN CONTACT ME THROUGH MY EMAIL OR THE GEOCACHING MESSAGE CENTER TO SEND YOUR ANSWERS. ANY INCORRECT ANSWERS MAY RESULT IN A CLARIFICATION RESPONSE FROM ME.
1. "Downtown Disney - Waterfall Weathering" on the first line of your email AND list all geocaching names of your party so I can match your answers to them. If you all want to learn something, I would prefer each cacher send me individual emails in the spirt of earthcaching.
2. Take a photo of you (or your signature item if you don't want to show your face) with the fountain in the background. This photo MUST be attached to your "found it" log.
3. Look for one area of the fountain that shows the most weathering (where there is flowing water, on the protruding rocks). Describe the (a) textures and (b) colors of this portion of the fountain.
4. Look for one area of the fountain that shows the least weathering (immediately next to the flowing water, also on the protruding rocks). Describe the (a) textures and (b) colors of this portion of the fountain.
5. After you have looked at both portions, what is the most dominate type of weathering (chemical, mechanical, biological) occurring here? How can you tell?
6. Can you see at least one more type of weathering? If so, describe what it is and where you see it occurring. If not, explain why this might be the case.
