January 7 – Metamorphic core and deformation

Today we made three  geologic stops on our way back to our original hotel in Quito from the hot springs.  In the morning we investigated a stream which flowed from atop the Cayambe Coca Reserve that we hiked yesterday.  We saw metamorphic rocks, which have various degrees of color and mineral banding due to type of stresses or pressures they encountered after forming.  On the next stop, we saw a large lake and used the surrounding topography and types of rocks found there to hypothesize that it was formed by a landside.

Our last stop for the day was directly on the equator.  We saw a large rock outcrop with gigantic swirls and waves in it.  It looked like a masterpiece of sculpted rock.  I learned that the forces that created this were folding (bending) and faulting (breaking) of the rock due to compression pressures.  When I first saw it I was in awe of its enormity and intricacy.  However, it wasn’t until after I discovered how it was formed that I realized the impressive power of geologic pressures.  As humans, we are often astounded by man-made edifices and enthralled with our technology.  But we are at the mercy of these formidable geologic forces which have dictated where we can build and inhabit.  We have been compelled to adapt to the topography of the earth- not the other way around.

For dinner we were allowed to explore the area around our hotel in a suburb of Quito.  I went to a small restaurant around the corner from the hotel with a small group of people.  When we arrived, I tried to speak Spanish, but the owner quickly recognized that we were American and explained the menu to us in English.  I ordered blackberry juice (blended fresh in the kitchen upon order) and cerviche, an Ecuadorian specialty consisting of shrimp in a cold soup that resembles a salsa.  The meal was delicious and we went to a local paneria or bakery for ice cream bars and cookies for dessert.