This earthCache takes you to one of the best views of the Bryce Canyon Amphitheater.
The region of what is now Bryce Canyon was covered by a shallow sea during the Cretaceous Period over 60 million years ago. Deposits of silt and sediment from the sea and later lakes and streams formed the layers of rock seen throughout Bryce Canyon. The grottos to the west of Bryce Point are in some of the layers of sandstone that had formed millions of years ago.
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock that forms in two stages. First, layers of sand accumulate over time, having beein transported by water or wind. Once sand layers have accumulated, the sand becomes sandstone as it is compaced and cemented. Compaction is a result of pressure from the weight of the layers of sediment deposited above. Cemetation of the sand happens through the precipitation of minerals through the spaces between the grains. The most common cementing materials are silica and calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
The grottos were formed by the erosion of pale sandstone layers beneath harder layers of limestone. Water seeps through the cracks in the upper layer of limestone to the softer sandstone layer below. The water then dissolves the sandstone layer's calcium carbonate cement. This process along with the expansion of the water through freezing breaks down the sandstone. The sand at the cliff face is then eroded away by water as it flows from the sandstone layer. The result is the formation alcoves in the cliff face that we see today as the grottos.
You can follow the rows of grottos to the Wall of Windows. The windows may have started as grottos but the rock behind them has weathered away to form the window openings. All of the formations here are very slowly changing as the weathering and erosion process continues.
There is no need to leave the designated park trails to get your answers to this EarthCache.
To log this EarthCache please do the following:
1. Look at the formations to the west of the Bryce Point viewing area. There are many grottos that have formed. In your own words, how do you think these formed?
2. Describe the color of the rocks around the grottos. How does the color compare to what you see in the amphiteater?
3. Estimate the size of the largest of the grottos.
4. Post a picture of yourself or of a personal object with the Amphitheater to the north in the background. Edit 06/23/2022: A picture of just the area without you or a personal object is not enough to verify your visit so please be sure to get a good photo.
You may log the EarthCache find before or after sending the answers to the questions. Send Answers to the cache owner and do not post them in your log. Answers must be sent within seven days of your visit. The questions are not hard, but do require some thought and observation. You must visit the site to log the find. Answers sent for a group are welcome but everyone claiming the EarthCache must be present and their picture or that of their personal object is required. The required picture may be sent with the answers if you prefer not to post it in the online log. Logs may be deleted if answers and picture are not submitted.
Additional pictures of your visit are encouraged.
Favorite Points for this EarthCache are appreciated.
Near the posted coordinates there is an information sign about Ebenezer Bryce, the namesake of Bryce Canyone National Park. For anyone interested, there is also benchmark disk here that can be logged on geocaching.com.
Permission to place this EarthCache was obtained from Bryce Canyon National Park.
Sources:
https://wikipedia.org
Various National Park Services publications and signs
https://www.brycecanyon.com/bryce-canyon-geology/
https://www.ck12.org/c/earth-science/mechanical-weathering/lesson/Mechanical-Weathering-HS-ES/