Turkey Run State Park Marshall ~ Indiana

Transcription

1 Lab 4: First Field Trip Indiana Geology Field Experience ~ G136 Turkey Run State Park Marshall ~ Indiana Materials For this field trip, you will need to bring the following materials: Rock identification kit A ruler A digital camera Your course workbook and a printout of this worksheet A printout of the Answer Sheet for this lab A pen or pencil A map of the park Your MP3 player with the audio files downloaded for this field trip $5 for entrance fees to the park Other Useful Items As with any outdoor field work, the following items will be important: A bottle of water and a snack Bug Spray and sunblock/suncreen Long Pants and a long sleeve shirt or jacket for changes in weather Sturdy, close-toed shoes (boots or sturdy tennis shoes) they will get dirty. DO NOT wear nice shoes, high heels, flip-flops, etc. Safety Abide by all the safety guidelines in the park brochure or noted at the park entrance, available at the park gate. You will be climbing stairs and walking along loose rock and wet rock surfaces. Please wear sturdy shoes and watch your step. The trails will be muddy and will cross streams in places Stairs will be slick when wet, please use the handrails. Do not venture off-trail; both for safety reasons and to protect the natural environment from erosion. Access to certain park areas described here may be limited due to weather conditions or events. If you encounter an unsafe condition or closed trail, take a photo of it and do your best to complete the activity. You can call the park in advance to determine if areas are closed or flooded. 1

2 It is safer to visit a park with another person, whether they follow you on every trail or wait for you elsewhere in the park. Some parks can be desolate on weekdays in the off season or poor weather. Park and Field Trip Information Location: 8121 East Park Road, Marshall, IN Phone: Main ; Nature Center Park Map: Park Info: Directions to the Park 1) From Indianapolis, take I-70 WEST to the I-465 NORTH interchange (Exit 73B) 2) Take I-465 NORTH to the I-74 EAST exit (Exit 16A) 3) Take I-74 WEST to SR 39 (Exit 58) 4) Go LEFT (SOUTH) on SR 39 and continue on SR 39 to Danville 5) Turn RIGHT (WEST) on US 36 in Danville at the T-intersection (next to North Salem State Bank) 6) Take US 36 WEST through New Winchester, Groveland and Bainbridge 7) At the stoplight at the intersection of US 36 and SR 231, turn RIGHT (NORTH) onto SR231 (greenhouse produce on the corner) 8) At the intersection of SR 231 with SR 236 turn LEFT (WEST) onto SR 236 (there are two metal silos on your right here) 9) Take SR 236 WEST through Marshall (you will turn right, go through an arch, then turn left in Marshall) 10) After Marshall, turn RIGHT (NORTH) on US 41. Signs will be marking the park entrance. 11) Take US 41 NORTH to the T-intersection with SR 47, turn RIGHT (EAST) on SR 47 12) Continue on SR 47 until you reach the entrance to Turkey Run State Park 13) Turn LEFT into Turkey Run State Park at the bottom of the hill. 2

3 Arrival at Park When you arrive at the park, you will have to pay the admission fee. The fee is cheapest if you visit Monday to Thursday and/or drive a vehicle with Indiana license plates. The directions for Stop 1 start from the park gate, but you are welcome to scout out the park and use the park map to find Stop 1. Bathrooms are found at the Nature Center and the Turkey Run Inn. The icons below indicate when you should listen to a mini-lecture on your MP3 player, take notes, or take pictures. This activity should take 3-5 hours to complete. Allow yourself enough time before sunset to complete the activities. After parking your vehicle but prior to beginning the worksheet, please listen to audio file Overview Turkey Run SP for an overview of the park, the purpose of this field trip and helpful information for completing the activities. Stop 1: Nature Center From the Gate House, follow take the road that curves to the right, away from the parking lot for the inn. Continue straight on this road. This road will end at the Nature Center, park in the large parking lot in front of the Nature Center and Swimming Pool. Turkey Run State Park Observations: On your answer sheet; please record here observations about the date of your trip, the time you began, the time you finished, and the weather conditions. Geologists always note these factors, as weather and amount of daylight can affect the color of earth materials and conditions you observe. Please answer this, and all questions, on the Lab 4 Answer Sheet that you printed prior to your visit. Date Start time End time Weather conditions Trail conditions After parking your car, walk to the Nature Center. As you enter the Nature Center, there will be an information desk in front of you, a theatre/planetarium to your right and a display area to your left. Please note, the Nature Center is only open during the day, and may be closed at certain times. Enter the display area to the left of the main desk. Please listen to audio file Stop 1 Turkey Run before examining the displays. 3

4 Nature Center Question 1. Describe the fossils on display at the nature center including their type, age, and paleoenvironment of origin. Please answer this, and all questions, on the Lab 4 Answer Sheet that you printed prior to your visit. After answering the question about the displays at the nature center, please walk back out the entrance to the nature center. Turn left and go to the gravel trail on the right side of the nature center. Note: You will spend this entire trip walking on trails that start from this point, please be sure to bring along water and any other supplies you will need as you will not be driving to any other stops. Stop 2: Floodplain and Suspension Bridge Stop 2a. Floodplains Walk down the gravel path to the right of the Nature Center. Two paths diverge here, you may take either path. We are heading towards the suspension bridge. Walk down the stone stairway called 70 Steps (Photo 2.1). After descending the stairway, walk the short distance to the suspension bridge. Climb the steps, but do not cross the bridge yet. Stop at the top of the landing to the bridge. Photo 2.1 Note large versions of each photo are included in a separate document called TurkeyRun_photos_large.doc. Please listen to audio file Stop 2 Turkey Run while standing on the landing of the stairway to the suspension bridge. Walk back down off the bridge onto the floodplain that was described to you in the audio file. Answer questions about this flat area (below) before crossing the bridge. Unless the river is flooding, you can walk onto the point bar under the bridge. Floodplains Question 1. Draw a sketch of the relationship of Sugar Creek, the floodplain you are standing on, the nearby point bar, and the cutbank opposite the bridge. Your sketch should include the features you see, labels for these features, and you should draw the bend in Sugar Creek as described in the audio. Also consult the park map. 4

5 Floodplains Question 2. Observe the sediments that you are standing on. In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. Use page 71 and 73 of your workbook to aid in these descriptions. You will be coming back to this table to record information about sediment you see in other parts of the park. To the left of the suspension bridge steps (facing the bridge) is a small pathway down to a pile of sediments right along Sugar Creek. These sediments will be visible if the water level is not high. If the water level is low, please walk down to these sediments. This is the point bar described to you in the audio. Floodplains Question 3. Observe the sediments of the point bar. In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. Use page 67 and 72 of your workbook to aid in these descriptions Stop 2b. Rivers Ascend the steps to the suspension bridge and stand on the middle of the bridge looking downstream (you will need to figure out which way downstream is). Your view should be similar to that of Photo 1.2. Rivers Question 1. Photo 2.2 Describe Sugar Creek. Your description should include the approximate width of the channel, the color of the water, the apparent velocity of the water (fast or slow), and the nature of the banks (steep, gradual, rocky, tree-lined, etc). Rivers Question 2. Does either bank of Sugar Creek look the same? Why or why not? (Hint: you learned about this in the audio file). 5

6 Stop 3: Trail 4 to Coal Mine Stop 3a. Rock Outcrops on the Cut Bank. After crossing the suspension bridge, go down the steps and take an immediate left (before the next bridge). You should be facing Sugar Creek. Go left at the Warning sign (Photo 3.1) to begin on Trail 4. You will cross underneath the suspension bridge. Please observe the rocks on your left as you walk past them Rock Outcrops Question 1. Describe the rocks directly next to Sugar Creek as you begin on trail 4. Name them using your rock identification kit. Your description should include the color (weathered and unweathered), grain size, bedding and any other sedimentary features or terms you used in Lab 2 or 3. (HINT: unweathered color is the color of a fresh piece of rock, like one that has been broken recently. Weathered color is the color of the rock that has not been broken recently---and aged by rain, snow, moss growth, etc.) Rock Outcrops Photograph 1. Please take a photograph of the rocks you described in Question 1. Remember to include a familiar object (pen, keys, etc.) for scale. Geologists stick a common object in photos for scale because many geologic features can look the same at different viewing distances, even between a microscope and satellite image. Stop 3b. Coal Mine Photo 3.1 Continue walking along Trail 4. At the junction with Trail 8, please continue on Trail 4, to the right. You will ascend and descend several stairways before reaching mine. At the coal mine, please listen to audio file Stop 3 Turkey Run for information coal formation and the mining of coal. Coal Mine Question 1. Read the interpretive sign about coal and coal mines. How does coal form? What kind of fossils are generally found in coal? Why? Coal Mine Question 2 Walk over to the coal mine. What kind of rock is at the top of the coal mine? Describe the rock here. Name it using your rock identification kit. Your description should include the color (weathered and unweathered), grain size, bedding and any other sedimentary features or terms you used in Lab 2 or 3. 6

7 Walk across from the coal mine entrance to the stream behind it. Walk across this small stream and look at the rock exposure on the opposite side. Coal Mine Question 3: Describe the two new rock types here. Does any of the weathered coal look like your coal sample in your rock identification kit? What rock do you think we see here? What characteristics lead you to these conclusions? Name them using your rock identification kit. Your description should include the color (weathered and unweathered), grain size, bedding and any other sedimentary features or terms you used in Lab 2 or 3. Walk back to the trail from the stream. Go past the coal mine a short distance to a small bridge running over the creek. Look at the sediments under the running water. Coal Mine Question 4: Observe the sediments that make up the stream bed at the small bridge by the coal mine. Look at the sediments by the bridge, and not at the last outcrop. In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. Use page 67 and 72 of your workbook to aid in these descriptions Walk back towards the mine and up the stairs from the coal mine and continue back up the trail to the suspension bridge. Stop 4 will begin from the suspension bridge. Stop 4: Trail 3, Rocky Hollow Stop 4a. Preserved Periglacial Environments From the base of the suspension bridge, cross a small bridge and walk towards the area where several trails converge. You should see a trail that goes towards Sugar Creek and a trail that begins at a small wooden bridge. Next to this bridge is a sign entitled Welcome to the Rocky Hollow Nature Preserve. Stop at this sign. At the sign at the entrance to Rocky Hollow, please listen to audio file Stop 4a Turkey Run for information on the unique ecosystem of Rocky Hollow and information on the features you will see and observe at this stop. 7

8 Periglacial Environments Question 1: This canyon preserves conditions similar to periglacial conditions. What are some characteristics of a periglacial environment during glacial times? Periglacial Environments Question 2: Read the interpretive sign about Rocky Hollow. Conditions within the Hollow have preserved an ecosystems that existed how many thousands of years ago. What makes this preservation possible? Describe the geologic factors that allow this ecosystem to be preserved. Stop 4b. Sedimentary Rock Beds Walk across the small bridge by the Rocky Hollow Nature Preserve sign. On the other side of the bridge, you will again be walking along a tall rock outcrop. Stop and examine this rock. Please listen to Audio file Stop 4b Turkey Run. This audio will describe the canyon and the rock in front of you. Sedimentary Rocks Question 1. Describe the rocks you see on the other side of the bridge. Name it using your rock identification kit. Your description should include the color (weathered and unweathered), grain size, bedding and any other sedimentary features or terms you used in Lab 2 or 3. Sedimentary Rocks Question 2. The audio and page 80 of you workbook show how to tell the direction of water flow from the orientation of cross bedding. Draw the crossbedding you see at this location. Then, answer this question: What direction was the water flowing to create the bedding you see here? You should be looking directly at the beds to answer this question. NOTE: The trail here is oriented roughly east and west. Sedimentary Rocks Photograph 1. Please take a photograph of the bed that you used to determine the direction of water flow when these rocks were deposited. Use a pen or other familiar object for scale. 8

9 Stop 4c. Rocky Hollow Canyon and Wedge Rock As you walk through this canyon you need to look at three things 1.) Study the rock in the canyon walls 2.) Study how the rock has been carved and eroded 3.) Study the sediment on the canyon floor. Walk around the rock beds and into Rocky Hollow. Trail 3 will go to the right up into Rocky Hollow. Please take Trail 3. Walk up the hollow until you reach Wedge rock on your right. Your view of Wedge Rock should be similar to that of Photo 3.1. Photo 3.1 Rocky Hollow Question 1. How was this canyon (and other canyons in this park) formed? Describe the geologic processes that formed this canyon. Rocky Hollow Question 2. The interpretive sign at Wedge Rock indicates that erosion is still occuring in Rocky Hollow. What are the rates of erosion and what are the agents (causes) of erosion in Rocky Hollow today? Rocky Hollow Question 3. The audio indicated that Wedge Rock formed when jointing allowed a big piece of the canyon wall to fall. The audio also indicated ways to determine how tilted this rock is. From the information given in the audio, determine the orientation of Wedge Rock. It may be helpful to draw a sketch of Wedge Rock along with your answer. Continue walking up Rocky Hollow, observing the stream, the sediments of the canyon floor and the canyon walls. Rocky Hollow Question 4. As you walk through the canyon, observe the sediments that make up the canyon floor. In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. Rocky Hollow Question 5. Is there evidence within the canyon that some layers of the rock are eroding more quickly than others? Why do you think this is? Please explain your answer, and use sketches. You should look at both walls of the canyon when thinking about this question. 9

10 You are now finished with Stop 4 in Rocky Hollow. You may now turn around and go back to the Suspension bridge. If you wish, you may use your trail map to continue up to The Punch Bowl to observe some unique features created by running water that you will also see in Falls Canyon.. The next Stop will again begin where the trails converge to the left of the suspension bridge. Stop 5: Trail 3 along Sugar Creek Note: At this point you are going to travel about 1 mile on trails and then come back (about 2 miles total). If you need water, a snack, or a bathroom, get these before going on. Parts of the trail will require climbing hills, stairs and rocks. At the place where several trails converge near the suspension bridge, please begin walking on Trail 3 near Sugar Creek. You will begin by climbing up a few rocks to a wooden boardwalk. The beginning of the trail goes up several steps through a large crevice in the rocks (Photo 5.1). As you enter the crevice, Sugar Creek will be behind you and/or to your left. The crevice you are walking through was also created by jointing as it was described in the audio. Photo 5.1 Trail 3 Question 1. Was this crevice created by jointing alone, or has the rock tilted from its original position? Look at the orientaiton of the layering and sedimentary features of the rock. Please explain your conclusion. After you exit the crevice, the trail will ascend a hill. Observe the sediments that make up the trail. You will be asked to describe these later. At the top of the hill there is an overlook of Sugar Creek on your left. Please stop at this overlook and observe Sugar Creek below you. From here, you can observe how far Sugar Creek has eroded into the bedrock. As you walk from the overlook, please listen to Audio file Stop 5 Turkey Run State Park while walking on Trail 3 and Trail 5. This audio will describe the sediments and rocks that you have been seeing in this park. Trail 3 Question 2. Observe the sediments that make up Trail 3, and those on the sides of the Trail. In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. 10

11 As you exit the observation overlook, please turn left to continue walking on Trail 3. After the trail descends the hill, turn right. The area to the left heads to an area called the Ice Box. Please be careful when climbing over the rocks here, they may be very slippery. You are welcome to explore the Ice Box, but there is no audio nor questions associated with this feature. After exploring, please continue onward on Trail 3. You will cross over a small bridge and down a stairway towards Sugar Creek. The stairs end at a large hole carved into the bedrock on your right this is a glacial scour carved out by the erosive action of rocks and ice. After the glacial scour, there is a fork in the trail, you will be going left onto Trail 5 for the next stop following along the river. Trail 3 goes to the right here, but we will now start on Trail 5 to the left. Do not follow trail 3. Stop 6a. Trail 5 Stop 6: Trail 5 to Canyons Begin walking along Trail 5 at the junction of Trails 3 and 5. Continue walking along Trail 5 until you reach the junction of Trails 5 and 9 at Falls Canyon. We will be taking Trail 9 for the next stop. Below you will answer some question as you walk towards that junction. Trail 5 Question 1. Describe a possible paleoenvironment of the bedrock you ve seen so far in this park. Use your workbook exercise on Sedimentary Environments or other park resources (at the nature center) to aid in your descriptions. Stop 6b. Falls Canyon At the junction of Trails 5 and 9 you should take Trail 9 to Falls Canyon. Trail 5 turns to the right here; do NOT go this way. Trail 9 continues along the river before turning into falls canyon; take care when walking on the rocks, they will be slippery. The canyon should look similar to Photo 6.1. Standing at the base of Boulder Canyon, please listen to audio file Stop 6 Turkey Run for information about these boulders and how they got here. Photo

12 Falls Canyon Question 1. What evidence do you see for scouring in the canyon? Describe the evidence, or draw a picture. How does this occur? Falls Canyon Photograph 1. Please take a photograph a place where you see scouring in Falls Canyon. Falls Canyon Question 2. Compare and contrast Falls Canyon with Rocky Hollow (Canyon) at Wedge Rock. In your description, include information like the size of the stream, vegetation, the nature of the canyon walls, the sediment at the base of the canyon, and the width of the canyon. Falls Canyon Question 3. Using the topographic map in your answer sheet (1:24000, 10 foot contour interval), describe the height of Falls Canyon at its widest and narrowest point. Then, describe the width of Falls Canyon at its widest point. Stop 7: Trail 9 to Boulder Canyon After exiting Falls Canyon, continue on Trail 9 towards Boulder Canyon. The trail will be relatively flat until a stairway appears, this stairway will take you into Boulder Canyon. Once in the canyon, you will walk down the ravine. The trail will turn left, requiring you to walk up a narrow ravine strewn with boulders. Stop here, do not ascend through the rocky canyon. At the base of Boulder Canyon your view should be similar to that of Photo 7.1 Boulder Canyon Question 1. Photo 7.1 Is the rock that makes up the walls of the canyon here the same as the rock we ve been observing elsewhere in the park? What are its characteristics? What rock type do you think this is? Name it using your Rock Identification Kit. Boulder Canyon Question 2. Are the Boulders made of the same material as the canyon walls? That is, did the material that makes the boulders fall off of the canyon walls? Please explain the reasons for your conclusion. 12

13 Boulder Canyon Question 3. Using your workbook, try to identify some of the boulders in the canyon. Write down your observations here. You do not have to name the rocks, just describe them and tell if they are sedimentary rocks or not sedimentary rocks. Boulder Canyon Photograph 1. Please take a photograph of a group of boulders that you described in question 2. Remember to include an item like a pen, keys, or backpack for scale. Boulder Canyon Question 4. At this location, describe the sediment in the floor of the canyon at the base of the boulders (not the boulders themselves). In the table on page 3 of your Answer Sheet, describe the textural characteristics of the sediments, including their color, their shape, their arrangement, and their size. You should also indicate note whether the sediment is made of one rock type or several different rock types. You are now finished with Stop 7. Turn around and walk out of the canyon the way you entered. You should return back to the suspension bridge the same way that you walked here walk back down Boulder Canyon, walk through Falls Canyon, and keep following Trail 5, then Trail 3 along Sugar Creek. You may alternatively continue on Trail 9 up through Boulder Canyon, it will loop around to join with Trail 5 and then join with Trail 3. PLEASE NOTE: This route is the most rugged; you will have to climb several ladders. Please consult your map if you choose to continue. The next Stop will begin at the suspension bridge. Stop 8: Groundwater When you have returned to the suspension bridge, please walk back across the suspension bridge toward the nature center. Before going up the 70 Steps, please turn to your left and walk a very short distance down Trail 1. You should see a large, tall, rusting, leaking object to your right (Photo 8.1). This object is a groundwater well. Stop here. Photo 7.1 Please listen to audio file Stop 8 Turkey Run (note the audio will start by saying Stop 7 ) about the purpose of this well and the use of groundwater in this area. Groundwater Well Photograph 1. Have someone take your picture in front of the groundwater well. You must be in the picture. This will be the proof that you attended this field trip. 13

14 The next stop does not require you to walk and observe anything. You may do this stop here at the groundwater well, or you may now continue up the 70 Steps and back to the nature center or a picnic table to complete the following. Stop 9: Geologic Map Reading You have now observed several different types of sediment and bedrock at Turkey Run State Park, and learned a little about the fossils and rocks of Shades State Park. On the final page of this worksheet is a geologic map of the area around both parks. This geologic map shows both bedrock and unconsolidated material. The legend indicates the geologic age of the material. Please answer the following questions using this geologic map. Geologic Map Question 1. Where does bedrock outcrop in this area? A. along the streams B. in the area between streams C. everywhere on this map D. there is no bedrock shown on this map Geologic Map Question 2. Explain the reason for your answer to question 1. Geologic Map Question 3. Why are alluvium and outwash generally only found along stream channels? Geologic Map Question 4. Are there any units on this map that you did NOT encounter today? Geologic Map Question 5. What are the oldest features on this map? The youngest? You are now finished with the Turkey Run Field Trip. You are welcome to continue exploring the park on your own, or go enjoy lunch or dinner at the Turkey Run Inn. Please drive home safely. 14

15 Geologic Map of Selected Portion of Parke County from Indiana Geological Survey MM49 Sugar Creek Legend Holocene alluvium Wisconsinan to Holocene loess Wisconsinan loam till Wisconsinan undifferentiated outwash Late Mississippian to Early Pennsylvanian sandstone, shale, and limestone Early to Middle Mississippian siltstone and shale Area of Turkey Run and Shades SP 15

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