You may log this as a find and then send me the answers. I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. I would really appreciate it if you would use complete sentences. Only one person needs to submit the answers for your group, but please list the names of the people with you for whom you are sending the answers. Please send a message to me through geocaching.com.
This is my first attempt at placing an Earthcache. I hope that you enjoy your day in beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park. There is no physical container at the GZ. Instead, you will need to answer a few questions listed below.
At the GZ, you will see informational posters that will give you the answers that you will need for some of the questions. Please send the answers to me as through via ta message geocaching.com.
Two types of rocks in Bryce Canyon that have been affected by erosion.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate. There is not pure oxygen in limestone, however any silica tetrahedrons in it contain 1 silicon and 4 oxygen molecules each. It is primarily comprised of CaCO3 - i.e., 3 Oxygens per Calcium Carbonate molecule, also known as mineral calcite.
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized mineral particles or rock fragments. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar because they are the most resistant minerals to weathering processes at the Earth's surface. Like uncemented sand, sandstone may be any color due to impurities within the minerals, but the most common colors are tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white, and black. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified in this canyon.
Please answer the following questions:
1. At the gz, there are informational signs. What types of erosion does one of the signs tell about? After reading the information, which type of rock, limestone or sandstone, do you think would be the more affected by chemical erosion.
2. Look out over the railing and notice that the earth here has two distinct colors. What are the two colors?
FOR QUESTIONS 3 AND 4: THE ANSWERS ARE NOT ON THE CACHE PAGE OR ON THE INFORMATIONAL SIGNS AT THE GZ. USE YOUR DEDUCTIVE-REASONING SKILLS TO ANSWER THESE TWO QUESTIONS.
3. Do you see limestone and sandstone? How do you know?
4. Take a picture of you, your group, and/or your gps device AT THE RAINBOW POINT SIGN. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE PICTURE, YOU MAY PLACE ANYTHING WITH YOUR CACHING NAME ON IT IN THE PICTURE.
SNOWY MONTHS ONLY
There is a gate that is closed during the winter months, which makes finding the answer for question 1 impossible. Even though you might not be able to get to the GZ to read the signs or look over the edge, try to answer questions 2 and 3 to claim this cache (winter months only). Reading the cache page should help you with those questions. A picture of you or your GPS at the site will be needed to prove that you were actually at Rainbow Bridge.
Thank you for your interest in this Earthcache. I hope that you had an adventurous time.