Overview
Some questions to ponder. Now that you have gone on the trip, here are a few questions to consider (and answer).
- On a large scale, Florida is mostly characterized by flat topography; but you will notice on the drive to Bat Cave there are quite a few hills and valleys. Compare and contrast these valleys to those you saw during the Gainesville Creeks field trip. What causes this kind of topography?
- How do caves and sinkholes form?
- During the drive to and from the cave, did you notice any surface water (lakes or rivers)? Yes or No
- Why or Why not?
- Where does the water go when it rains?
- Look at the map of Bat Cave. What do you notice about angles formed between intersections of the various passageways in the cave? What would cause these angles and how might this relate to the origin of the cave?
- 5. Look closely at the rocks that make up the walls of the cave. What kind of rock is it?
- What is this rock layer called?
- What mineral(s) make up this rock?
- Do you see any structural deformation in the rocks and if so what kind?
- What feature in the cave would indicate the elevation of the water table in this area?
- The Newberry dump is located a few miles North of this cave and there is a proposal to construct another dump in the area. Is the existing landfill North of the cave likely to affect the quality of the ground water in Bat Cave? Yes or No
- Explain why or why not?
- Having seen the geology and hydrology of this area, is it a good idea to put a landfill in this type of an area? Yes or No
- Explain why or why not?