Field Guide: Conducting an EarthCache Investigation
An EarthCache is a unique geological treasure hunt that combines satellite navigation with hands-on field science. Unlike traditional geocaches, an EarthCache contains no physical container, plastic trinkets, or paper logbook hidden under a pile of rocks. Instead, the landscape itself is the destination. To earn credit for finding one, you must visit a site of significant earth-science interest, observe the geological features, conduct field measurements, and answer specific research questions provided by the cache creator. Follow this procedural guide to complete an EarthCache investigation effectively and ethically.
Required Equipment
Before leaving for the field, gather your essential geological tools:
- A handheld GPS receiver or a smartphone equipped with a reliable navigation application.
- A field notebook with waterproof paper and a weather-resistant pen or pencil.
- A small 10x hand lens or pocket magnifier for inspecting rock grains and crystal structures.
- A rigid pocket ruler or calibrated photo-scale card.
- A camera to document geological features (and take any required verification photos).
- Sturdy hiking footwear, plenty of drinking water, and appropriate weather protection.
Step 1: Pre-Field Research and Planning
Before heading outdoors, open the EarthCache listing on your computer or mobile device. Read the background geology summary thoroughly. Unlike standard trail descriptions, EarthCache notes provide vital scientific context regarding regional tectonic activity, mineral formations, or glacial history. Review the specific logging tasks listed at the bottom of the cache description so you know precisely what measurements, rock types, or erosional features you must investigate. Download the cache details and terrain maps to your device for offline use, as cell service is frequently absent at remote rock outcrops.
Step 2: Navigating to the Feature
Enter the published coordinates into your GPS unit. Follow designated hiking trails toward ground zero—the exact location of the geological feature. As your distance counts down, remain observant of the surrounding topography. When you arrive within a few meters of the coordinates, stop and scan the landscape. Look for the distinct physical formation described in the cache notes, such as an exposed rock face, a fossil bed, a natural arch, or an erratic boulder deposited during the last ice age.
Step 3: Conducting Systematic Field Observations
Once you locate the feature, begin your scientific assessment:
- Macro Observation: Stand five to ten paces back to view the entire formation. Note overall structures like visible bedding planes, folds in rock layers, or distinctive color banding.
- Micro Examination: Move closer and use your hand lens to inspect the rock texture. Determine whether individual mineral grains are smooth and rounded (indicating transport by water or wind) or sharp and angular. Check for visible crystals or embedded fossil fragments.
- Dimensional Measurements: Use your ruler or scale card to measure specific elements requested in the cache tasks, such as layer thickness, mineral vein width, or grain size. Place your scale tool directly beside the feature when photographing it to establish accurate scale.
Step 4: Recording and Synthesizing Data
Carefully record your findings in your field notebook. Answer each prompt from the EarthCache listing using precise scientific vocabulary rather than vague descriptions. For example, instead of writing "the rock is reddish and bumpy," write "the outcrop consists of iron-oxidized sandstone with coarse, poorly sorted grains." If the task requires estimating the height or volume of a formation, write down your mathematical calculations clearly alongside your final estimates.
Step 5: Submitting Your Geological Log
After returning from the field, compose your answers in a clean draft. Send your completed responses directly to the cache creator through the official messaging center or email link before logging your visit online. Once your answers are sent, submit your online log sharing your field experience and any requested photographs. Remember never to post the answers to the scientific questions in your public log, as this ruins the educational challenge for future field scientists.
- outcrop:
- A section of rock formation that is exposed at the surface of the ground without soil cover.
- topography:
- The natural physical surface features and shapes of an area of land.
- bedding planes:
- The visible horizontal layers or dividing surfaces that separate distinct beds of sedimentary rock.
- erratic:
- A large rock or boulder carried and deposited by glacial ice that differs from the native bedrock.
- hand lens:
- A small, handheld magnifying glass used by geologists to closely inspect minerals and rock textures.
- iron-oxidized:
- Changed chemically by the reaction of iron minerals with oxygen, often resulting in a reddish or rusty color.
- tectonic:
- Relating to the structure, movement, and deformation of the Earth's crust over time.
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About this how-to / procedural passage for Middle School
“Field Guide: Conducting an EarthCache Investigation” is a how-to / procedural reading passage about Earth Science, written for Middle School. It takes about 4 minutes to read (634 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.