Limestone Impressions EarthCache
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Millions of years ago New York State was located 30 degrees south of the equator. The Capital Region was submerged under a shallow tropical sea filled with calcium carbonate rich critters. A mass extinction killed 75% of these species when sea levels dropped, the climate changed and the amount of oxygen decreased. As the critters died they became trapped in the mud and sand. The calcium carbonate in their bodies became limestone and their impression was formed in the rock. Limestone is a sedimentary rock formed chiefly by the accumulation of these organic remains. It is extensively used in buildings, considering it is soft and easy to cut.
At the IP there is a historic site with a building from 1856. To receive credit for this earthcache, you must locate a fossilized critter in the limestone foundation of this building. Email me the name of this critter and approximately when it was alive on this earth. Take a photo of your GPS and the fossil then upload it to the website.
For extra credit: As you face the front of the building, there are three trees to your right. Next to the third tree, there are several grooves in the limestone at your feet. If you examine the area further, you will find more of these grooves. Email me your thoughts on what created these grooves. If you are right, you'll get a prize.
Please DO NOT post any answers or guesses in yours logs. Thanks.
Congrats to Swizzle for being the first to get the answer about the grooves correctly.
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Treasures
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