Silver Creek/Wildcat Glade EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Geocaching HQ Admin: It has now been over 30 days since Geocaching HQ submitted the disabled log below and, unfortunately, the cache owner has not posted an Owner maintenance log and re-enabled this geocache. As a result, we are now archiving this cache page.

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Hidden : 3/21/2008
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Walking trails. Easy walking as on gravel walkway. Nature center is open 9-5, where you can find help with questions.

A glade is a feature of the earth where the bedrock has been uplifted to the point that part of the bedrock is just breaking the surface of the soil. The soil is therefore very shallow and will not hold moisture very well. The combination of the rocks heating the soil and the lack of moisture, make this a desert environment.

Most plants have a shallow root system. This is due to the bedrock forming a bearer so close to the surface. You will find cactus growing next to bright colored coreopsis. A glade is like an island. It will have its own microenvironment (Desert), while it may be surrounded by a totally different type of environment. This is the case here, with stands of hardwoods and streams nearby.

The rocks are covered with Lichens. These are interesting living things that are made of two different living life forms living together to benefit each other. These are made of algae and a fungus. They are one of the first living things to grow in rocky areas. The help to break the rock down into soil which will allow different plants to grow.

The rocks in this glade are Dolomite, Mozarkite, Jasper ect. These are all forms of what is known as Chert. There is only about 65 acres of Chert glade in the world and most of that is found in this complex. Chert is high in Silica bearing Quarts. One of the ways for this to be formed is sea animals that have shells that are rich in Silica die and fall to the bottom for the sea. Over a long period of time the silica is compressed and mixed with other minerals to form these rocks we call Chert. Mother Earth has helped to place Chert here by pushing and lifting the old sea floor up to form the Ozark Plateau. This site is on the western edge of that plateau.

Silver Creek Glade is part of the Wildcat Glade Complex. The coordinates will place you at the Nature Center. There are trails that will take you to Wildcat Glade and the hardwood forest that grows around the Glade. While walking the trail, look for the interesting wildlife in the glade. You may see the mascot of the Glade or some of his Camouflaged jumping friends.

Your project to solve is to find what is the name of Chert that is used to strike steel to start fires.Also what is the mascot of Wildcat Glade and who is his jumping camouflaged friend.

Be sure to look in the Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center. This ecofriendly building is the home to our local Audubon of Missouri and Missouri Department of Conservation. All of the people that call this building home will be glad to help with questions. Also look for one of the Wildcat Glade members of the Missouri Master Naturalist. We are known to hang out around here.


It would be great if you would take a picture of the glade when you are here and post it at the web site. This will help to show the glade at all different times of the year. I am trying to show how geocaching is showing this site to people from the whole USA. When posting your answer it would help me if you would tell me where you are from and the number of people in your group and ages. This information will help to show the importantance of this site.

Links to more information on chert glades and nature.
WWW.wildcatglades.audubon.org/
www.audubon.org/states/mo/mo/centers_wildcat.html

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

ernq fvtaf gb vasbez lbh ba jung lbh frr. Uryc vf nyfb va gur Angher Pragre

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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