The Genesis of Life EarthCache

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Gps Storm: Couldn't be bothered!

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Hidden : 4/22/2009
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

Mpumalanga hosts one of the two oldest and best-preserved rock sequences found anywhere on our planet.



The other is in Pilbara, Australia and there is good geological evidence to support the hypothesis that these two areas were once fragments of Earth's earliest continent. Rocks from these areas provide the only direct information from which the earliest history of our planet can be reconstructed with confidence. These sequences are known as Greenstone belts. They occur as belts of deformed volcanic and sedimentary strata and get their name from the presence of green minerals Actinolite, amphiboles, Chromium muscovite "fuchsite", epidote, green chlorite and serpentine).



These ancient rocks are among the oldest in the World. The Barberton Greenstone belt is one of the oldest and best exposed Archaean greenstone belts on Earth and is almost 3.5 billion years old. The small and beautiful "Makhonjwa Mountain Range"close to Barberton, where gold and asbestos deposits occur, stretches from Jeppe's Reef to Oshoek and from Shiyalongubo Dam to Queen's river. It is known world wide in geological circles as a treasure house of other significant geological phenomenae. This range is also referred to as the 'Genesis of Life', because it's geology includes the best preserved ancient Achaean rocks on earth. These ancient rocks are 3.5 billion years old and they are so well preserved that their fossils accurately record the earliest life forms on the planet, as well as evidence of the first massive meteorite impact on record, possibly related to the formation of our moon. These finds confirm without doubt that simple life was rife on Earth about 3 500 million years ago, and that most of its upper oceanic crust was teeming with bacteria.

Other microscopic fossils have also been discovered in the Barberton Mountain Land in numerous other rock types, suggesting that there was a significant diversity of bacteria. Thus between 3 200 and 3 500 million years ago primitive life in Mpumalanga was already exploring a number of ecological niches and had established the world's oldest biodiversity hot spots.

The 2km Fortuna circular hiking trail on the edge of town, takes a person through the old transport tunnel and along the beautiful mountainside. Along this walk there are lots of interesting rocks and rock formations to see and study. But most of all the Tunnel is where you will be able to see most of the age old rock as described above.

To claim a find on this Earth cache you need to take a photo of yourself in front of either end of the tunnel with a piece of clearly visable green rock. As well as answer the following question: There is another mineral found in the Barberton rocks in abundance, that looks like one of the minerals mined in the area, what is it?

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