ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST DISCOVERY SERIES
Each of the earthcaches in this series will take you along roads and trails
to discover the wonders that exist in and around the ANF.
Elk - Forest - McKean - Warren
This discovery series was developed as a heartfelt THANK YOU to all who completed the requirements as requested, and wrote positive logs worth the time to read. Complete 24 ECT caches. Send a list of logs (GL links) via message for verification of requirements. Arrange to meet at Cache Condo to pick up your trackable coin.
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)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- two pictures (log signatures) are required to post a find for this cache. 1. Pic at your favorite rock / 2. Pic at trailside rock
MARILLA ROCKS
1. MESSAGE …. Based on your direct observations of the types of rocks and the information given (see Resources), what Geologic Unit is Marilla Rocks? Explain. Any reasonable explanation is acceptable.
2. MESSAGE …. Estimate the height of the tallest rock formation.
3. MESSAGE …. When you first encounter the rocks, use your GPS to measure the distance from the beginning of the visible formation to the end of the visible formation.
4. MESSAGE …. What process is responsible for the rocks you see here?
5. MESSAGE …. Explain why you think these huge rocks are only seen here?
RAILROAD GRADE - TRAILSIDE
6.MESSAGE …. Estimate the height of this pop-up rock.
7.MESSAGE …. a. What process is responsible for the rock you see here? / b. Explain why you think this huge rock is only seen here?
8. LOG …. Post a picture at your favorite rock at Marilla. Post a picture of the trailside rock (waypoint). These pictures are your log signature. No spoiler pics..
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Discover another pop-up rock in/around the ANF, Give coordinates. Why do you think your rock popped up at this location? If you found your pop-up rock at a geocache/earthcache site, give name of the cache and GC number instead of cooordinates.
B. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
C. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU LN for travelling and hiking with RT to complete this Earthcache Trail
TUNA VALLEY TRAILS ... http://www.tunavalleytrail.com/
The Tuna Valley Trail system consists of 3 community trails (1 more under development) and 6 marilla trails. The Tuna Valley Trail Association recognizes our area's historic connection to the Tunungant Creek. TVTA trails highlight the natural beauty of the Tuna watershed, and its historic role in the area's development. The Marilla Rocks Trail brings you through a wooded area until you reach an impressive rock formation.
ROCK TYPES IN McKEAN COUNTY
The native rocks exposed at the surface are sedimentary deposited during the Paleozoic Era. They are sandstone (feels gritty), shale (smells like wet mud when moistened), conglomerate (pieces of other rocks), limestone (fizzes in vinegar).
Sedimentary rocks are formed from pieces of other rocks that have been weathered, eroded, deposited, compacted, and cemented, resulting in the formation of rocks. Sedimentary rocks are laid down in layers called beds or strata. The newest layers are above older rock layers, providing the rocks haven’t been folded or faulted.
Sedimentary rocks may contain fossils, because they form at temperatures and pressures that do not destroy the fossil remains. These fossil remains are important in matching rock layers. Differences between successive layers indicate changes to the environment which have occurred over time.
GEOLOGIC UNITS IN McKEAN COUNTY
A geological formation is the fundamental unit of lithostratigraphy. A formation consists of a certain number of rock strata that have a comparable lithology, facies or other similar properties. The concept of formally defined layers or strata is central to the geologic discipline of stratigraphy.
Pottsville Formation (Pennsylvanian) - Predominantly gray sandstone and conglomerate; also contains thin beds of shale, claystone, limestone, and coal; includes Olean and Sharon conglomerates of northwestern Pennsylvania; thin marine limestones present in Beaver, Lawrence, and Mercer Counties; minable coals and commercially valuable high-alumina clays present locally. Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; shale; siltstone; claystone; limestone; coal
Catskill Formation (Devonian) - Grayish-red sandstone, siltstone, shale, and mudstone; locally conglomeratic; contains gray sandstone in upper part; lithologies arranged in fining-upward cycles; equivalent to the Hampshire Formation south of Pennsylvania. Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale; mudstone; conglomerate
Lock Haven Formation (Devonian) - Interbedded olive-gray mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, and thin conglomerate; marine fossils throughout; "Chemung" of earlier workers. Laterally equivalent to Scherr and Foreknobs Formations. Lithology: mudstone; siltstone; sandstone; conglomerate
Allegheny Formation (Pennsylvanian) - Cyclic sequences of sandstone, shale, limestone, clay, and coal; includes valuable clay deposits and Vanport Limestone; commercially valuable Freeport, Kittanning, and Brookville-Clarion coals present; base is at bottom of Brookville-Clarion coal. Lithology: sandstone; shale; limestone; clay or mud; coal
Shenango Formation through Oswayo Formation, undivided (Mississippian and Devonian) - Greenish-gray, olive, and buff sandstone and siltstone, and gray shale in varying proportions; includes "Pocono" ("Knapp") and Oswayo of earlier workers; difficult lithologic distinction between Oswayo and "Knapp"- "Pocono" south and east of type area at Olean, N. Y.; contains marine fossils; includes lateral equivalents of Shenango Formation, Cuyahoga Group, Corry Sandstone, Bedford Shale, and Cussewago Sandstone, plus Oswayo Formation. Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale
Venango Formation (Devonian) Light-gray siltstone interbedded with some flaggy, gray sandstone and some bluish-gray shale; Panama Conglomerate and Woodcock Sandstone are, respectively, the lower and upper key beds defining the formation; referred to as "Cattaraugus" by some workers; includes some red shales where it interfingers to the east and south with the Catskill Formation; marine fossils present. Lithology: siltstone; sandstone; shale; conglomerate
Huntley Mountain Formation (Mississippian and Devonian) - Greenish-gray and light-olive-gray, flaggy, fine-grained sandstone, siltstone, and a few red shale interbeds; includes lower "Pocono" plus "Oswayo" of earlier workers. Forms transition between Catskill Formation and Burgoon Sandstone. Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale
Chadakoin Formation (Devonian)- Light-gray or brownish siltstone and some sandstone, interbedded with medium-gray shale; included in Conneaut Group and "Chemung" of earlier workers; marine fossils common; includes "pink rock" of drillers. Lithology: siltstone; shale; sandstone
POP-UPS - There are several ways huge rocks may appear in a landscape otherwise devoid of them.
GRAVITY
Rocks, both small and large, roll down hillsides. These can be single rocks or mass movement of a group of rocks. Are there hills evident?
EROSION
Differential erosion will cause rocks to be hewn from the surrounding bedrock. Look at the topography. Is the land fairly flat?
UPLIFT
Forces within the earth can cause underground rocks to be uplifted to the surface. Is there a difference in the surrounding topography?
ROCK CITY
"Rock cities develop from flat-lying, massive beds of resistant conglomerate or sandstone exposed on hilltops above much weaker beds of shale or siltstone. Widely spaced vertical fractures called joints outline the blocks. Erosion of the hillslope proceeds more rapidly in the weak beds than in the conglomerate, leaving it overhanging so the blocks eventually tumble. Frost heave and root-pry in the joints aid in the process, particularly in the early stages of separation. In time, some buildings may creep far from their source." Is the type of rock you see native to this area?
GLACIAL ERRATICS
These are pieces of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. They are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of miles. Was this area glaciated? ... See Glacial Map
LANDSCAPING
Huge rocks are often moved to various locations for landscaping purposes. Does this area appear to be landscaped?
RESOURCES
MEEKER SHELTER by George1--A Platinum Earthcache Master
An excellent cache explaining The Devonian Catskill Formation. Permission granted from Terry Detsch with thanks to cache developer George Lockey who passed away.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0e73d5a7-d613-4460-b45d-04e3c98bf592
Please post in your log other earthcaches you find that explain any of the listed formations.
TUNA VALLEY TRAIL ASSOCIATION
http://www.tunavalleytrail.com/Tuna.html
www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/groundwater/pdfs/mckean.pdf
http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/rock_key.htm#Key
http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geology/state/fips-unit.php?code=f42083
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mapped_rock_formations_in_Pennsylvania