Petrified Wood-A Clue to the Past at Skidaway Is. EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

GeorgiaTreasureQuester: I do not know how long it will take for the interpretive center to be rebuilt. Therefore, this earthcache is being archived. Perhaps, someone can place a different earthcache at this location at a later date. Thanks to everyone who has visited.

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Hidden : 4/15/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Please note that The Park Interpretive Center / Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. You will need to visit The Park Interpretive Center / Museum in order to complete this earthcache.

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Millions of years ago, a natural event occurred which caused this area to be covered in mud. Trees were trapped beneath layers of mineral rich sediment. Oxygen was not able to reach these trees through this mud and this prevented the natural process of decay. Over time the organic material of the trees was replaced with minerals. Time passed and the area dried, leaving fossils of petrified wood. This petrified wood is a timeless sample of the vast old wood forest that once stood in the area.

Petrified wood is a type of fossil. Petrified wood is fossil wood where all the organic material has been replaced with mineral, yet it retains the original structure of the actual wood.

The process of petrifaction occurs underground. The wood becomes buried under sediment and is preserved due to a lack of oxygen. Water flows through the sediment and deposits minerals (usually quartz) inside the plant. The organic material of the log is slowly replaced with stone that forms in its place.

Most people are familiar with the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. But, are you aware that petrified wood is found throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Some other popular areas to see petrified wood are the Petrified Forest in California, the Mississippi Petrified Forest, Ginkgo/Wanapum State Park in Washington and the Petrified Wood Park in South Dakota. I’m sure that your research would provide many more places of interest to examine petrified wood. In fact, I would imagine that you found it surprising to find a petrified wood exhibit here in Georgia at Skidaway Island State Park. But, here it is, a small display of petrified wood from an ancient forest that once stood near here. This petrified tree trunk was found very near here in the Savannah River.

It is interesting to notice the colors of the petrified wood. Pure quartz crystals are colorless. However, some petrified wood has elaborate color. Elements such as copper or iron oxides that are introduced as contaminants during the petrifaction process can result in color variations of the fossilized wood. Contaminates of cobalt, copper and chromium result in blue or green colors. Manganese oxides and carbon contamination result in black colorations. Manganese produces hints of pink and orange. Yellow, red and brown colorations result from iron oxides that were introduced during the petrifaction process.

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In order to log this Earthcache as found, please email the answers to the following questions to me through my profile.

1. According to the sign, how old is the large piece of petrified wood?

2. Approximately how tall and how wide is the large piece of petrified wood that is displayed here?

3. After visual inspection of the same large piece of petrified wood tell me, do you feel that cobalt and copper were present during the petrifaction of this log?

As always, a photo of you with your gpsr is appreciated as proof of your visit. If you have the ability to take and upload a photo, please do so. (Any photo of you and your gpsr in or near the museum would be great. Just don’t include the petrified wood in your photo as it would be a spoiler for the next visitor.) If, however, you do not have this ability, don't let that prevent you from visiting the Park Museum, learning a bit about petrified wood and logging this EarthCache.

Skidaway Island State Park is located southeast of Savannah. The park is open daily from 7:00am to 10:00 pm. The main park office is open Sunday through Wednesday from 8:00 am to 5: 00 pm and Thursday through Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. The Park Interpretive Center / Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. You should also note that the trails allow no walkers after dark. There is a fee to enter the park, except for Wednesdays when there is no entry fee. (Currently the fee is $5 per vehicle. But, it is good to confirm the fee on the park’s website before your visit.)

For more information on Skidaway Island State Park, view their website at http://gastateparks.org/info/skidaway

Congratulations to southern angel and Superfun Hunters for being FTF.

It has become necessary for me to add this note to all of my earthcache listings. I request that you email the answers to me on the same day that you log your “found it” log. (This does not have to be the day you visit, just the day you log the find on the computer.) I also request that you do not log a “found it” log unless you have actually visited the site of the earthcache and sent the answers to me. As much as I hate to do so, I will delete logs of finders who have not provided the appropriate answers.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gb zr n yhfu pnecrg bs cvar arrqyrf be fcbatl tenff vf zber jrypbzr guna gur zbfg yhkhevbhf Crefvna eht. (Uryra Xryyre)

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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