Pseudomorphism EarthCache
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Everyone likes trees, right?
Well, of course!
So since you like trees so much, you're gonna really love this
earthcache.
Because here, you will find trees. Very, very, very, very, very,
very old trees. And lots of them!
Welcome to the Petrified Forest!
Here you will find lots of trees, both living trees and petrified
trees. Both kinds are cool, and both are highlighted in this little
pixel of the world that you are going to wander through. Both the
living and the mineralized are honored here, however, it is the
very old, ancient, hard and heavy stuff that is the focus of this
earthcache.
There is also an outstanding Earth Science museum located here. It
contains tons of fossilized specimens. I was floored by the great
displays in this museum. There are hundreds of primo specimens of
petrified wood, from all over the state, the nation, and the world.
The museum contains large maps with examples of petrified wood
found in every county in the state, in every state in the nation,
and elsewhere in the world. Plant life through the ages is shown by
a variety of leaves, fruits, cones and bark. There are also fossil
woods identified as to species.
Many other kinds of fossils are on display in the museum, including
dinosaur tracks, whale bones, huge shark jaws and teeth, turtle
shells, and even a complete cast of a prehistoric camel. I know my
buddy Humphrey would be spitting with excitement if he got a chance
to see that!
Above, I keep referring to the rocky stuff as "trees". I suppose it
is technically incorrect to refer to petrified wood as trees. In
fact, when they were first deposited here during their pre-rock
days millions of years ago, they had already stopped being trees.
They had already been uprooted, their lives as oxygen-producers
already having ended.
They were logs. Logs that washed downstream to this spot by a
flood-swollen river over thirty million years ago. They formed a
monster log jam that was deposited here. Then, they were covered by
a layer of sediment. And then they underwent the process of
petrification.
The process of petrification is dependent on
certain conditions. First, the dead wood needs to be protected from
decay. Protection can come from the rapid burial of logs by
volcanic ash, mud, sand, gravel, or other fine-grained sediment,
creating an anaerobic environment. The dead wood must also be
saturated with mineral-laden water, which also helps protect the
wood from decay. Finally, for the process to be successful, the
water itself needs to harbor specific minerals necessary for
petrification.
After the burial and saturation of the wood by mineral-laden water,
chemical reactions take place between the minerals and the
cellulose compounds in the cell walls of the wood. The growth of
mineral crystals begins in the porous cell walls and then fills the
central cavity of the cell itself. This type of preservation of the
cells is called permineralization.
Conditions then change in the solution surrounding the
permineralized wood. This causes the cells walls to dissolve. Then,
crystals grow in the spaces left behind by the dissolution of the
cell walls. Thus, two phases of crystal deposition result in
complete mineral replacement of the wood. This creates a
pseudomorph - a copy of wood.
The process takes place quite rapidly, geologically speaking. In
optimal conditions, the petrification process can occur in only a
few centuries.
As millions of years passed, the logs here at the Petrified Forest
were covered by layer after layer of soil. The logs lay hidden deep
in the earth until settlers moved into the area and searched for
land to farm. Since the area is sandy, the years of farming
resulted in erosion, which eventually revealed the hidden logs.
The huge stone logs that you see here provide a glimpse into
prehistoric time. Think about the primeval forest where these stone
logs once lived as huge trees. Some of the ancient trees had trunks
that measured twelve to fifteen feet across, and their branches
crested a hundred or more feet. Today, there are few living trees
that can match that sheer magnificence.
The posted coordinates lead you to the entrance of the Petrified
Forest. It is located less than a mile southwest of the town of
Flora, Mississippi. Once you make it to Flora, you will have no
problem at all finding your way to the location. Flora is also easy
to find and is convenient to two major interstates. To get to
Flora...
- From I-20 (eastbound or westbound), take Exit 19 and travel
northeast on state route 22 for about twenty-five miles.
- From I-55 (northbound or southbound), take Exit 119 and travel
southwest on state route 22 for about sixteen miles.
- From downtown Jackson, travel northwest on US 49 for about
fourteen or fifteen miles.
There is a modest admission fee.
The Petrified Forest is a Registered National Landmark.
WHAT YOU MUST DO TO COMPLETE THIS
EARTHCACHE:
Now, on to the tasks that you must complete. First, make sure you
are prepared. Items you should bring with you include a camera, a
tape measure, and a pen and paper.
In order to claim this earthcache as a find, you must take the
self-guided tour along the nature trail and complete the following
tasks. The trail takes you along 26 numbered exhibits, and also
lots of specimens that are not numbered. Make sure you grab a copy
of the excellent trail guide from the Visitors Center before you
start down the trail. It describes everything in good detail.
The tasks you must complete are listed below.
Requirement #1 - Photo On The
Bench: You must post a photo of yourself sitting on the
Caveman's Bench. As you progress along the trail, you will come
upon a section of a log that is called the Caveman's Bench. It is
near exhibit 8. This bench was a part of the huge log that is still
half-buried in the cliff wall just to the side of the bench. The
exposed part of that huge stone log is about forty feet long. It is
okay to sit on the bench - it is encouraged. You must take a photo
of yourself sitting on the bench and post it with your find log.
Click here to see an example of the type of picture I want to
see.
Requirement #2 - Identify The Extinct
Specimen: Near exhibit 25 on the trail, you will come
across a specimen that is an extinct species of tree. It is marked
by a small sign. It also is unique because the red color that it
contains. As the sign states, there is no living counterpart of
this tree. You need to identify the name of that extinct tree. In
your email to me, you need to identify the name of that extinct
tree.
Requirement #3 - Measure The
Log: At the very beginning of the trail, before you even
reach exhibit 1 (right as you leave the Visitor Center), you will
see a petrified log to your right. It is located at N32° 30.865'
W090° 19.404'. There will be a sign there describing the log,
including how much it weighs. Using your tape measure, measure the
circumference (not diameter) of that log at its widest spot (which
is the end closest to the trail). Measure to the nearest inch. In
your email to me, you need to identify the circumference that you
measured (in inches) and the weight of that log (in pounds, from
the sign).
Logs not accompanied by email within a reasonable amount of time
will be deleted per earthcache rules. I don't like doing that. So
please be careful to get done what you need to get done.
Remember Your Three Simple
Requirements:
Photo on the bench,
Email name of extinct tree, and
Email circumference and weight.
I hope you learn something. And I hope you have fun.
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