Weathering and Collision

The weathering "station" along the transect loop collects and organizes limestone outcrops, boulders, and small stones found scattered along the slope. The path reveals the weathering stone in its varying stages of transition to soil. Stone bars inscribed with reference dates and processes segment the path, dividing the walk into periods of time correlated to the time needed in this climate region for limestone to weather to soil. Climbing the slope, the narrow path and steepness of terrain force the body to lean forward. Looking down at the progressively larger stones, with legs burning, the forces of gravity and weathering are revealed.

The collision station is located along the fault line between Ordovician and Cambrian Period limestones. The transect loop follows the fault up a rock outcrop where the tremendous force of colliding tectonic plates millions of years ago thrusted older Cambrian strata over younger Ordovician strata in a northwest direction. Footholes will be chiseled into the outcrop allowing the body to climb along the fault, walking the line between two periods of time. Oolitic limestone slabs will mark the fault line path on either end of the outcrop. This type of limestone is scattered around the fault outcrop area, and was formed between 200 and 300 million years ago when East Tennessee was under a shallow sea.