#044 - Those Shells Rock !!! EarthCache
#044 - Those Shells Rock !!!
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
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Appreciation for the sculpted terrain of contemporary Florida
begins with an understanding of the geologic processes that began
over 40 million years ago when the region was at the bottom of the
ocean. The Florida peninsula is actually the emerging portion of a
tectonic platform called the Florida Plateau. Beneath the sea, the
plateau acted as a marine shelf. As sea levels rose and fell, the
remains of large and small sea creatures deposited on the shallow
ocean floor creating limestone bedrock. After sea levels dropped, a
limestone peninsula, several thousand feet deep, emerged.
I stumbled over these three exposed examples during my lunch break
walk ....
What you see here are very good examples of the Florida Limestone
mentioned above. The rocks contain fossilized shells (Scallop),
sometimes snails (Planorbis), and fossilized corals. Those three
rocks were brought to the surface when this development was built
and big ponds were dredged. As you can see in the picture I placed
an actual scallop shell found at the local beaches to give a size
reference between then and now. The sizes of today's shells found
on our beaches do not differ at all from those fossilized shells.
When you look closely you can also identify fossilized corals in
those rocks.
To claim this earthcache you need to fulfill the following two
tasks at their corresponding coordinates.
Task 1
At the coordinates listed below for Stage 1:
Take a picture of yourself and the rocks and post it with your log
(Please make sure you do not show the large fossilized shell from
the second part of this task). Also email me the length (in inches
– measured to the closest half inch) of the largest fossilized
shell you see at those coordinates - which is obvious when you are
there....
Task 2
At the coordinates listed below for Stage 2:
Here you find another two rocks with fossilized shells. Take a
close-up picture of your GPS on those rocks with legible
coordinates aand try to capture some fossilized shells in it. Post
the picture with your log as well.
Looking forward hearing from you. Happy Earthcaching!
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