Coal Ridge EarthCache
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The coordinates will take you to a spot above the creek by the waterfall. As you go down to the creek you will see the vain of coal that has been carved out by the many years of the creek running thru here. Under it you will see the clay formation.
Coal (IPA: /ˈkəʊl/) is a fossil fuel formed in swamp ecosystems where plant remains were saved by water and mud from oxidization and biodegradation. Coal is a readily combustible black or brownish-black rock. It is a sedimentary rock, but the harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rocks because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure. It is composed primarily of carbon along with assorted other elements, including sulphur. It is the largest single source of fuel for the generation of electricity world-wide, as well as the largest source of carbon dioxide emissions, which have been implicated as the primary cause of global warming. Coal is extracted from the ground by coal mining, either underground mining or open-pit mining (surface mining).
This town is built on the old coal mines.
Between 200 and 300 million years ago, long before there were any reptiles, birds or mammals, in many parts of the world there existed warm and human climatic conditions. These conditions favored the growth of huge tropical ferns and giant trees, which grew and died in vast swamp areas. The dead plants fell into the boggy waters, which tended to exclude oxygen and bacteria, so that they only partially decomposed to produce a peat-like material. This fossilized plant debris was the beginning of coal, but only the beginning.
Vegetation continued to grow for many generations and centuries, forming vast, thick peat beds which were later to turn into coal. After a time the areas of swamp gradually became submerged by shallow seas, where they were covered by sediment. these sediments would later become sedimentary rock. This cycle of swamp followed by submersion was often repeated a number of times, so that a sequence of horizontal bands of peat and inorganic, sedimentary rock was built up. This formed the first stage, called the biochemical stage. Coal formation occurred in other geologic periods as well.
Subsequently, the bands of peat were altered by the action of pressure and temperature during the second, or geochemical stage, to form the various kinds of coal found today. As much as a 20-fold reduction in the thickness of the original plant deposits sometimes occurred. During the course of time these horizontal coal seams were further altered as they became folded, tilted and eroded. Much of this action was due to the motion of the continents, as mountains formed and were then worn away. The study of fossils is called paleontology. The creation of coal from fossils is part of geology.
To get credit for this cache you must email me the height of the coal vein. Also post a picture of you next to the waterfall. While you are there, take a look closely at the large bedrocks by the waterfall, you can see little fossils in the rock.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Rawbl gur nern. Erzrzore, pnpur va genfu bhg.
Treasures
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