Buffington Pockets EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This Earthcache is located off of the Bitter Springs Trail Backcountry Byway, a Bureau of Land Management designated Backcountry Byway located about 40 miles east of Las Vegas. To reach the trail, drive north on Interstate 15 to the Valley of Fire exit (Exit 75) and turn south for about three miles. When the road bends to the left, continue straight to the beginning of the byway. You will be crossing rough terrain and deep washes with sandy soils. A 4-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance and good tires is required, and is reflected in the difficulty rating.
Buffington Pockets is an area where Jurassic-aged Aztec Sandstone is exposed west of Valley of Fire State Park. Like the Wilson Cliffs west of Las Vegas, water has percolated through this sandstone and leached out the deep red coloring. What remains are the soft pastels of tans, oranges, and maroons.
Aztec Sandstone is composed of ancient eolian (wind blown) sand dunes which have lithified into sandstone. The dunes moved as the winds removed sand from the windward side. Loose sand flows over the dune crest and slides down the leeward side, forming inclined layers called cross bedding. As dunes merge and shift, a patchwork of cross bedding is created.
At the site of the coordinates are many cross bedded layers of sandstone. Measure off 2 inches perpendicular to the crossbedding and count the layers.
To log this Earthcache, send me an email with the number of layers which you counted.
Additionally, take at least one picture with you and your GPS receiver from somewhere within Buffington Pockets, showing the distinctive look of cross bedded sandstone. Please DO NOT post a picture showing the cross beds at this location. Post your picture with your log when you log your find.
The above information was compiled from the following sources:
Beffort, B. 2006. Afoot and Afield Las Vegas & Southern Nevada.
Bitter Springs Trail Backcountry Byway. Desert USA Website:
(visit link)
Tingley, J.V. et al. Geologic Tours in the Las Vegas Area. Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Special Publication 16.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)