SKuLL Rock

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION

SKuLL Rock is a 7,126 ft mountain peak near Deckers, Colorado. Gorgeous views of the South Platte River and surrounding areas can be seen from the peak.

At the top, and strewn about the sides, are mounds of rocks that appear to be placed in piles. The fact is, the piles are the result of spheroidal weathering, which the result of chemical weathering of systematically jointed, massive rocks, including granite, dolerite, basalt and sedimentary rocks such as silicified sandstone. It occurs as the result of the chemical alteration of such rocks along intersecting joints. The chemical alteration of the rock results in the formation of abundant secondary minerals such as kaolinite, sericite, serpentine, montmorillonite, and chlorite and an corresponding increase in the volume of the altered rock. When the joints within bedrock form a 3-dimensional network, they subdivided it into separated blocks, often in the form of cubes or rectangles, that are bounded by these joints. Because water can penetrate the bedrock along these joints, the near-surface bedrock will be altered by weathering progressively inward along the faces of these blocks.

The alteration by weathering of the bedrock will be greatest along the corners of each block, followed by the edges, and finally the faces of the cube. The differences in weathering rates between the corners, edges, and faces of a bedrock block will result in the formation of spheroidal layers of altered rock that surround an unaltered rounded boulder-size core of relatively unaltered rock known as a corestone or woolsack. Spheroidal weathering has often been incorrectly attributed solely to various types of physical weathering.

This is why there is so much scree (loose rock and pebbles) on the hillside. As the decomposed material, known as saprolite, was stripped away, large round boulders were left behind.

Weathering along joints forms large, mostly unweathered rock surrounded by more weathered, softer, browner material which is easily eroded, leaving the least weathered rounded rocks in place.

Frequently, erosion has removed the layers of altered rock and other saprolite surrounding corestones that were produced by spheroidal weathering. This leaves many corestones as freestanding boulders on the ground's surface. Often the spheroidal weathering, which created these corestones and the enclosing saprolite occurred in the prehistoric past during periods of humid, even tropical climates. Frequently, the removal of the saprolite by erosion and exposure of corestones as freestanding residual boulders, tors, or other landforms occurs many thousands of years later and during vastly different climatic conditions.

Depending on local environmental conditions, spheroidal weathering of bedrock blocks defined by tectonically induced joints and fractures may result in the formation of prominent and well-defined Liesegang rings within these blocks. These blocks typically consist of bedrock blocks (Liesegang blocks), which are bounded on their periphery by joints and fractures, and, in sedimentary rocks, bedding planes above and below. Each Liesegang block consists of a relatively unaltered core surrounded by concentric, alternating shells of iron-poor (intermediate shells) and iron-rich ('iron' shells) composition which make up the Liesegang rings. These iron-poor and iron-rich shells follow the configuration of the outer shape of the block and are sub-parallel to its sides. The iron-rich and iron-poor shells vary in degree of cementation and, as a result, can produce box work weathering structures during subsequent erosion. The degree of development of Liesegang rings as the result of weathering depends upon the spacing of the joint systems, groundwater flow, local topography, bedrock composition, and bed thickness.

SKuLL Rock

To receive credit for this Earthcache (email me directly; do not post in log):
1.) What are some other names for Spheroidal Weathering?
2.) In shedding layers, do they appear to drop entire sheets of layers at a time or more likely pebble by pebble?
3.) How do these boulders form?
4.) At the posted coordinates:
Judging by the amount of scree in the immediate area surrounding this small, yet fairly tall pile:
a.) Would you say it formed in place by shedding layers or fell into place by rolling down the hill?
b.) How tall would you say it is?
c.) Are they smooth or rough?

Optional: Post a picture of you with the pile at the top of the mountain (see Reference Point coordinates, also pictured above) where you can also find "SKuLL Rock (?)" [http://coord.info/GC5HKC1].
Note: Pics at posted coordinates will be deleted.

Congrats to _______ for FTF on this Earthcache.

Additional Waypoints

P164MA6 - Parking
N 39° 15.542 W 105° 13.477

R164MA6 - SKuLL Rock (?)
N 39° 15.676 W 105° 13.827