Course:EOSC311/2020/Tourism BC Digital Geology Travel Brochure

British Columbia is famous for it’s beautiful wildlife and natural scenery. Located in the heart of a temperate rainforest, with coastal waters and the Rocky Mountains hugging the borders, it is chalk full of interesting and aesthetic geological features. In this Wiki Page, you will embark on a geotourism scavenger hunt, solving riddles and learning more about the geological wonders within the Greater Vancouver Region. From rock types to land formation, you are bound to learn something new about the west coast backyards. Descriptions of Geological landmarks will provide hints in answering the riddles. The answer of each riddle will be posted at the very bottom of the wiki page where you can compare your results to your friends. Your score is mostly for bragging rights but everyone is encouraged to visit these natural and man made wonders!

Caulfeild Park

Caulfield Park is a geological wonder of British Columbia. It’s ice smothered rocks accurately illustrate how the landscape was a result of volcanic activity offshore brought together by plate tectonics. Granitization of this volcanic byproduct forms Caulfeild Parks sparkly rock material which creates a shimmer effect when met with sunlight. Granitization is the formation of a rock material through metamorphic processes which occur from material simply being deep beneath the Earth’s

surface, encountering high temperatures and the pressure of the rock layers above.Thirty million years ago, the Caulfield Park region was still highly active in volcanic activity but still smothered in ice. The molten magma would erupt from the top of the Volcano, immediately met with ice which cooled some of the subterranean magma, giving the peaks a sharp and jagged top. The remaining magma would flow down the icy terrain leaving a trail of smooth “baby rocks” that slope down the sides of the area.

These rocks now make up a majority of Caufield Park’s landscape which is now a popular hiking destination for tourists. These hiking trails feature a unique terrain with smooth, south-sloping rocky shoreline which is unique to the geology of the Vancouver region. As the trails are often ice covered, guests are cautioned to prepare for a cooler than expected hike during the springtime. The ice layers melt as we get deeper into the summer season.

Riddle

I am a Geoheritage Site in West Vancouver British Columbia.

I experienced a destructive birth in the Cenozoic Era 200 million years ago.

My mother is a hothead with a molten core. My father is very cold.

My parents live very far but were brought together by plate tectonics.

I am not very unique. I am a molten mosaic with my ancestors deeply ingrained.

Often being overshadowed by the Rocky Mountains, I too have been forged by fire and ice.

What rock material am I?

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This Earth Science resource was created by Course:EOSC311.