Rainbow Gardens EarthCache
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The Rainbow Gardens Area of Critical Environmental Concern covers an area of approximately 160 square kilometers, and is located immediately east of the city of Las Vegas. This area contains many beautiful examples of rock dating from the Precambrian to almost the present day. One of the most conspicuous rock formations in this area is the Rainbow Gardens Member of the Horse Spring Formation, which consists primarily of limestones and conglomerates, overlain by limestone, conglomerate, dolomite, and sandstone. These rocks were laid down in the Miocene Epoch, and are on the order of 19 – 26 million years old. This area also contains unique plant habitat, based in part on gypsum-rich rock units.
To receive credit for this Earthcache, send me an email with the answers to the following questions: 1.) Over how many years were the rocks formed? 2.) Fossils of plants and animals from which geologic eras are found here?
Additionally, take a picture with you and your GPS receiver with Rainbow Gardens in the background. Post your picture with your log when you log your find.
The above information was compiled from the following sources:
Informational sign at site.
Beffort, B. 2006. Afoot and Afield Las Vegas & Southern Nevada.
Tingley, J.V. et al. Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16.
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