We started our day of geology today at a pleasant spot on the beach! We looked at the Trubi Formation - the rock formation above the upper and lower gypsum layers we visited earlier. We measured and described a section of this formation, which is composed of rhythmic beds of limestone and marls.
After working for the morning at the beach, we drove to a roadside outcrop to unravel a geological mystery! Here we saw a section of upper gypsum that was tilted vertically. In this section, two different gypsum beds on either side of a clay bed showed opposite directions were up! Only after close examination could we see evidence of folding that had deformed the layer - both directions really were up! The section had been tightly folded into an s-fold or z-fold structure. In this situation, the crystal growth habit was our best indicator of the original orientation of the beds.
Then we were off to find the Turkish Steps! This amazing formation sits right on the water, and is bright white. It actually looks like a gigantic set of steps down to the sea from the bluff above.
Today was a planned short day so we took a much-needed break and swam for about an hour here. After that we came back to Verdetechnica and worked on our assignments... good times!
After working for the morning at the beach, we drove to a roadside outcrop to unravel a geological mystery! Here we saw a section of upper gypsum that was tilted vertically. In this section, two different gypsum beds on either side of a clay bed showed opposite directions were up! Only after close examination could we see evidence of folding that had deformed the layer - both directions really were up! The section had been tightly folded into an s-fold or z-fold structure. In this situation, the crystal growth habit was our best indicator of the original orientation of the beds.
Then we were off to find the Turkish Steps! This amazing formation sits right on the water, and is bright white. It actually looks like a gigantic set of steps down to the sea from the bluff above.
Today was a planned short day so we took a much-needed break and swam for about an hour here. After that we came back to Verdetechnica and worked on our assignments... good times!
We finished the day with a delicious dinner of roasted chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and olives over rice, and a caprese salad. Ahhh, Sicily :)
Ciao!
1 comment:
hey, handsome! wish I could be there to go swimming with you.
xo
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