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:
OVERLOOK
1. MESSAGE …. From the overlook (using binoculars) view the three waterfalls and the underlying bedrock. Give one similarity among them.
2. MESSAGE …. From the overlook (using binoculars) view the three waterfalls and the underlying bedrock. Give two differences between them.
PENNY ROCK
3. MESSAGE …. Quantitative Observation ... a. What is the thickness of the layers? / b. What is the size of the boulder?
4. MESSAGE …. Qualitative Observation ... The rock is slowly undergoing changes based on the environment. Give two things that are causing changes in this rock.
LOG …. Post a picture of you or your signature item anywhere along the trail to Penny Rock. This picture is your log signature.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in creating this earthcache by adding A and B to your log.
A. 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.
B. 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. 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 Friends of Salt Springs for permision to share this learning adventure.
DCNR
"The park lies in a glacially altered, hilly terrain referred to since the 1750s as "the Endless Mountains." The varying layers of Devonian age sandstone and shale of the Catskill Formation are exposed in the 80-foot-deep gorge of Fall Brook.
"The crystal waters of Fall Brook tumble over three picturesque waterfalls each about 10 feet in height before joining the waters of Silver Creek near the eastern border of the park. Thriving in the cool, moist conditions of the gorge are mosses, liverworts, and ferns.
"About 300' from the mouth of the gorge on the south side of Fall Brook is the bubbling salt spring which is the park's namesake. The water from the spring is very high in chloride, sodium, and dissolved solids revealing the marine origin of the sediments. The spring bubbles due to methane gas created by the breakdown of organic matter in the ancient sedimentary rock."
OVERLOOK
The Fall Brook Trail begins at Wheaton House, crosses a short bridge over Fall Brook, and then follows the creek. Observing the waterfalls requires creek walking and climbing the rocks. An alternative is to view the waterfalls from the overlook. This is a gentle walk mostly along a boardwalk. However, you will need binoculars to view the waterfalls from this vantage point.
The gorge is postglacial bedrock with waterfalls cascading over sandstone and shale. The 80'+ deep gorge of Fall Brook exposes the Late Devonian age Lock Haven Formation. The rocks are interbedded (layering) gray sandstone and shale that dip gently to the south. In contrast to all of northeastern Pennsylvania, the dominant joints in the Lock Haven strata of the Fall Brook gorge belong to the east-west set most striking about 85° W. The three falls are 11' (lower), 13' (middle, 7' (upper).
ORIGIN OF GORGE AND FALLS
Fall Brook begins in a wide, open valley and then enters a narrow 80' bedrock gorge where it cascades over three waterfalls before joining Silver Creek. Such a steepening in a stream's profile indicates a change in geologic drainage pattern. This was caused by glacial deposits forcing the stream to drain across a saddle (raised portion) in the divide between it and the adjacent Silver Creek Valley. Fall Brook's original direction of flow began northeasterly, and then changed directions to southeasterly at the saddle. The valleys of both Fall Brook and Silver Creek are transverse to ice flow and thick till shadows (thick deposition on north slopes) were deposited in both valleys. The till shadow in Fall Brook Valley increased in thickness and formed a knob in the valley that was higher than the saddle in the divide just up-stream. Upon ice recession, the stream was forced to drain over the saddle to Silver Creek and cut the present bedrock gorge.
PENNY ROCK
Located on the Hemlock Trail, Penny Rock is a sandstone boulder where visitors hammer pennies into the spaces between the layers for good luck.
RESOURCES ... SIXTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL FIELD CONFERENCE OF PENNSYLVANIA GEOLOGISTS, 2002 (115-124) ... Penny Rock Cache ... Waterfalls ... Salt Springs State Park ... DCNR Map and Recreational Guide to Salt Springs State Park ... Hiking