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An introduction to the weathering And erosion of rocks and rock art
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There are several types: Pictographs Petroglyphs Geoglyphs Intaglios
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Images Painted on to the Surface of a Rock
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Images carved or etched into rocks This image is from the Petrified Forest National Park, in AZ
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Also called Rock alignments These are rocks placed on the ground to form a pattern or image Image: www.chile.ca
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Dirt, rock, or material removed in order to form an image Image: Bureau of Land Management
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R.A.S.I. Stands for: Rock Art Stability Index This helps us tell how much danger the rock art is in of being lost…
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Rock Art is a form of a Cultural Resource. It tells us about : Native American People and Cultures People who have come and gone in the past It gives us an archaeological record
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Age of the rock art varies from 100 years or less to several thousand years old. The older rock art was carved before the invention of modern tools Rocks were used as tools, and images were pecked into the rock by hand.
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Rock Art is a precious, natural resource that is not renewable – Erosion Weathering Vandalism Theft
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This is where RASI comes in… We take photos… We analyze the danger the rock art is in of being lost We report it to the National Park Service
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The information we collect is put into a Database… Then, The National Park Decides How to go about Preserving The Rock Art
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Research Shows… Students learn better when they apply something they learn This gives a hands on learning opportunity It’s More Fun This Way
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The geological setting Which is the area surrounding the panel Then general weakness of the panel itself Large erosion events These are major events about to happen Small erosion events on the panel – this is where you get up close to the panel and look for smaller types of weathering Rock Coatings actually on the panel Vandalism and other issues
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Dependent on stone lithification Goes along with the bedding plane Independent of Stone lithification: Goes against the bedding plane of the rock More Examples: More Examples:
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The texture of the rock has banding, spots, or concretions
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Fissuresol dust that gets into the cracks of rocks and weakens it from expansion and contraction during temperature changes It leaves a ‘scar’ when the rock breaks off The orange and black is the dust coating left from the break
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Look at the panel, and see if there are roots growing in the panel The second part asks if there are plants on or near the panel
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Scaling pieces coming off that are a few cm thick – like the width of a hand Flaking smaller sizes pieces flaking off – about the thickness of a corn flake or smaller
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Fissures follow stone structure – Many in layers Looks like a book that has gotten wet
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This is where a large portion of the rock or soil is missing beneath the panel – Usually caused by water flow
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Weathering Rind – Looks kind of like an orange peel type texture Bumpy, uneven texture Included a picture without weathering rind to demonstrate the difference.
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Now you are going to look around the panel Identify Larger Erosion Events These are things you can see from a short distance
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This refers to any current activities by people Near a hiking trail? Trash around? Vandalism? Judge this by how much of these and similar activities are happening around the site
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This is where you get up close and personal to your panel These are events on a smaller scale Sometimes your really need to look up close to be able to see these
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From Sediment Transport by Water Water flow carries dirt, sand, and debris, This causes rocks to wear down If there is rock art on a rock that is in the path of water, it will slowly disappear
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Includes Carving Chiseling Bullet impact Other impact Does NOT include: The Rock Art itself Note about classification: If it’s 50 years old or older: Artifact If it’s 100 years old or older: Archaeological
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Pitted or Honeycombed appearance Usually in ‘clusters’ not just one pit/hole Tends to continue to expand and merge together
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This is where parts of the rock are crumbling off Texture of Feta Cheese Can look ‘Powdery’
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Single or Multiple Millimeter- scale Harder to see Get up close for this
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Even Smaller Than Flaking Small flakes in the Weathering Rind We Saw the Formation of Weathering Rind in a Previous Slide Previous Slide
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Similar to Crumbly Disintegration Smaller, sand size debris left over Most frequently sandstone and granitic
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Lithobionts are a Fungus that Grows on the Rock and Eats it Leaves a Pitted Appearance in the Surface of the Rock Can Look Similar to Aveolization Aveolization
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when the "dam" of weathered rind decayed rock erodes Leaves a visible scar in the rock Happens when the lithobionts die
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bedding or foliations Rock Cracks and Separates
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Usually incomplete Includes paint material in pictographs Coating on rock starts to detach
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Take the assumption that they were crisp and sharp when created Can be blurred a little or almost un-discernible
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Take the assumption that they were crisp and sharp when created Can be blurred a little or almost un-discernible
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Clay lenses Cementation Differences Nodules
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Rock coatings vary Most rock will have some coating Rock coatings help protect the rock This is a negative number on your assessment sheet
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Similar to Rock Coatings But becomes thicker If you knock on it, it will sound hollow Although it protects the rock, when it detaches, there is loss
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