Master Index    Nearest Caches Holey Rocks on the Border by Me & Bucky (2/2) N41° 00.366  W109° 13.399 (WGS84) UTM  12T   E 649411  N 4540954 Use waypoint: GC17YEW Size: Not chosen    Hidden on 12/14/2007 In WY, United States Difficulty:     Terrain:   Add cache to watch list Log your visit Google Maps Picture Gallery This Earthcache is located just north of the Utah/Wyoming border within Richards Gap. Parking is at a small pulloff on the west side of the road at N 41 00.365 W 109 13.488. While walking to the final coordinates, stop off at the rock at N 41 00.383 W 109 13.471 for a great closeup of this type of weathering. The rocks at this location are covered with deep cavities or hollows called tafoni. To reach this state, they have undergone a process called cavernous weathering. Though not well understood, this is thought to occur mainly through a form of wind and water erosion. In one hypothesis of how tafoni are created, moisture through the form of dew or precipitation enters these rocks and dissolves some of the harder minerals. These are leached to the surface, where the water evaporates leaving a coating or crust on the parent material. Some time later a piece of this outer crust breaks or weathers off and wind erosion begins to eat away at the softer material below. The rock eventually weathers to the form which you see here. The sandstone which is at this site is from the Blair Sandstone of the Mesaverde Group. Tafoni is usually found to be associated with sedimentary rocks, such as sandstones. To log this earthcache: 1.) Count the number of tafoni on the west side (side facing the road) of the large boulder at the site of the coordinates. Send me an email with this number. 2.) While walking back to your vehicle, take a picture with you and your GPS receiver with the tafoni from anywhere in this area. There are hundreds to choose from. Please do not post a photograph of the rock at the coordinates. The above information was compiled from the following sources: Chronic. H. 1990. Roadside Geology of Utah. Tafoni: http://www.tec.army.mil/research/products/desert_guide/lsmsheet/lstafon.htm

Additional Hints (There are no hints for this cache)

7/19/2008 by Lord Mot
Visited today with 7 while on a great road trip. Answers sent by him, but I can send them too if needed. Thanks for placing this cache. Beautiful area.

7/19/2008 by 7ofclubs
This was a really fun cache. I have the picture in my phone and its dead, as soon as I recharge it I will upload the picture. Really unusual area and the stones were great. I am a fan of Me and Bucky's Earthcaches. Email on the way.

12/24/2007 by cherokeerose
nice easy ftf on this one. the road was in good shape with very little snow. I just love the holey rocks too! they are so unique to look at.
email is on way with answer and will upload pictures. thanks for another great earthcache M&B!!!
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12/14/2007 by geoaware
Published