Sugar Loaf is located on Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Mackinac Straits has an interesting geological history. Millions of years ago during the Devonian Period ground water produced caves in limestone which subsequently collapsed. Blocks of the limestone which formed the roofs filled the caves and on cementation produced a formation known as the "Mackinac Breccia". The softer material was eroded away leaving the harder "Mackinac Breccia". This new rock is harder then the original limestone. Sugar Loaf was formed by wave action 11,000 years ago when Lake Algonquin levels were 210 feet higher than the current Lake Huron levels. During this time Mackinac Island as we know it today was mostly under water. The part of the island that was above water is called the Ancient Island. The Ancient Island was a little more then 1/2 mile long by almost a 1/4 mile wide. Sugar Loaf is about 300 feet east of the Ancient Island, below Point Lookout. A set of stairs we lead you to Point Lookout. A small cave in the sheer north face of Sugar Loaf is near the level of the highest shoreline, it was carved by wave erosion in a softer part of the breccia.
November 2, 2006 update: The logging requirements have been updated for the earthcache. To log this cache, email the owner with the following answers:
1.) Tell me the height of Sugar Loaf from the paved section of the road?
2.) Tell me the material that forms Sugar Loaf?
To email your answers please click here to open a new email.
Not required but always a pleasure to see, please post your photographs too.
Here are some links to geology sites that you may find interesting.
Geology and Earth Science Highlights
GSA EarthCaching
EarthCache Masters Get cool pins for placing and finding earthcaches!