North Kettle Moraine Fossil Discovery EarthCache
North Kettle Moraine Fossil Discovery
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(not chosen)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This is not your typical geocache; it is an EarthCache. Instead of looking for a “cache container” you will be brought to a geological feature.
ABOUT THIS LOCATION This site is located in the Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit. To find this site, at Dundee go east on Hwy. F to a parking lot on the right side of the road (N43 38.904 W 88 10.315). Walk a short distance to the bike trail where there also is a sign for White Kame. Note: Area is closed 11:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION
The two large, flat rocks near the White Kame sign will highly reward the observer. It was a most unexpected and astonishing surprise to find here an amazing assortment of fabulous fossils.
While developing this EarthCache, a worker mentioned that when the parking area was made these two large rocks (and the other rocks) were transported here from a nearby location. Of course, it was the glacier that did the major moving of these rocks as many of the boulders around the parking area are erratics far from their natural home. For these two flat rocks, also erratics, the journey here was shorter as they are the bedrock of this area. This bedrock is the sedimentary rock called dolomite of Silurian age from 443 to 417 million years ago.
During the Silurian Period, a vast, shallow sea covered this area. This was the Age of Coral when coral reefs attracted bryozoans, crinoids, small shelled animals and gastropods, trilobites, primitive fish, cephalopods, sea scorpions, and millipedes. And some of their fossils are here for you to admire!
Source: Google Images DCNR
EARTHCACHE INFORMATION Bring your camera and tape measure. To receive credit for this EarthCache, please do the following requirements (enclosed text will help you): 1. (MEASURE) The height of the rock closest to the bike trail is _____ and circumference is _____. 2. Observe the fossils and briefly describe three (size, shape, pattern, texture).3. These fossils are in a _________ rock called _________of ____________ age which is _______ to ________ million years ago (mya). 4. (Optional) Take a picture of your GPS between the two fossil rocks (and you/group if possible).
Send answers to me along with this EarthCache name and code. You do NOT need to wait for confirmation from me before logging your find. Please do not make any reference to these answers in your log.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)