Cachecycle #2 - Dirty Horizons EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

BIGGBYjedi: Went out on an Owner Maintenance tour today. Visited 29 caches, 17 of which ended up being missing, despite a number of those having been found in the last month. Yikes. While this cache can't be muggled, I'm still going to archive it. The trees continue to grow, and may in time obscure the view, which, with the recently added No Trespassing signs, will make this Earthcache impossible.

I really loved this series of hides, and, when I still lived in Portland, was working on adding a Whereigo to it, but didn't finish it before moving. I hope new hiders can make a go of all the space I'm vacating!

Thanks to all who visited over the years.

More
Hidden : 6/26/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

The listed coordinates will bring you just off of the paved portion of the Portland River Trail to a suitable observation point for completing the logging requirements of this Earthcache. Parking is available in the school lot (42° 53.019'N 84° 54.907'W) in the evenings and weekends,with a paved trail by the football field that leads back to the river trail (42° 52.914'N 84° 55.146'W). Otherwise it's a hike from the Bogue Flats Recreation Area (42° 52.572'N 84° 54.283'W).

Soil is formed over hundreds of years--layers of bedrock are broken down into smaller particles through weathering, erosion, and through glacial action. Soil horizons form when different types of soil are deposited in distinct layers, through the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter, and through the movement of those organic materials and minerals through the soil. This earth cache will bring you to a site where a couple horizons are very visible, though you may want to bring a pair of binoculars to get a better look. To log the cache, you will need to send me an email with the following:

a) Using the information below, note the letters of the soil horizons visible in the hills neighboring the river trail.
b) Of the visible soil horizons provide the name of the tallest horizon and estimate its height, on average.

The bottom-most horizon is bedrock (the R horizon), which in this area is sandstone from either the Grand River or Saginaw formations, which meet right in the immediate vicinity of this earth cache. Except in areas where the bedrock is exposed, the only mechanism for soil formation is weathering, where the bedrock is broken down in place, particularly by the influence of water which can break down the rock chemically by dissolving soluble minerals as well as mechanically if the water seeps into cracks and then freezes.

The C horizon (regolith) is comprised of large (but not continuous) shelves or pieces of unweathered bedrock is so named because it follows the A and B horizons, and likely resembles the same parent material as the R horizon.

The B horizon (subsoil) is noted for its distinctly different characteristics when comparing it to the horizons above and below it, which is due to the accumulation of clay and minerals that have leached (eluviated) out of the upper layers but have not penetrated the C or R horizons. The color of this horizon can be markedly darker in color, particularly if the upper horizons are heavy in clay or iron, which is then carried to and concentrated in the subsoil.



The E horizon may not be present in all areas, as it is defined as being almost entirely eluviated of its organic matter, minerals, and clay, leaving only a pale color layer comprised primarily of silicates.

The A horizon (topsoil) contains a concentration of decomposed organic matter, and as such is the layer with the most plant and animal activity in it. This activity leads to bioturbation, or the movement of soil, which is one of the major contributors to the horizonation of soil. The growth of lichen and of tree and plant roots, as well as burrowing animals such as ants, termites, and moles, break up parent material and can even sort it. In heterogenous soil (in the A and the E horizons) animals who burrow and mound can contribute to a stonelayer horizon (SL) beneath the A and E horizons.



The O Horizon is the topmost layer of soil, though unlike the other horizons, contains more organic material than minerals and is formed by the decomposition of material such as leaf litter. A P Horizon (peat) can also form if the area becomes waterlogged for an extended period of time, gathering clay, minerals, and organic matter that are eluviated from the O Horizon.

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