The cliffs of Sydney Mines contain some of the most
significant
fossil forests in the world. 300 million years ago, Cape Breton
was
a tropical forest covered in lush vegetation, sitting just north
of
the equator. During the Coal Age, huge trees grew in abundance
in
the wetlands of the time. Over time, these trees became entombed
in
sediment, sand, and mud. First the roots, then gradually the
trunks
became buried, generally to a height of a few metres.
Eventually
the tops of the trees rotted off and fell into the mire. A layer
of
peat formed from the sediment and a new crop of trees would grow
in
the peat. Then the cycle would begin again.
The fossil site in Sydney Mines is unique. Because Sydney Mines
is
located on an ocean-side cliff, a cutaway view of the fossil
forests
is visible from the shore.
Authorities say there are ten layers of fossilized forest under
the
town of Sydney Mines and surrounding area. Large fossilized
tree
trunks, branches and roots can be seen on the cliffs from the
shore, and on the beach where erosion deposits its broken-off
rocks, pieces of the fossilized trunks, roots, and branches,
as
well as the leaves and other material can be found. 150 years
ago,
fossilized tracks were found here of a dragon-like carnivore,
probably two or three metres long, that roamed these shores
75
million years before the dinosaur. Lizards, amphibians, large
dragon flies, scorpions, millipedes, gigantic tree snails, and
the
dragon-like creatures all inhabited the forests of the Coal
Age,
and the fossilized remains of many of these creatures exist in
the
Cliffs of Sydney Mines
Please note that this beach is a 'protected' area under the
Special
Places legislation of the Province of Nova Scotia. Do not
break
away fossils from the cliffs as it is both dangerous and
illegal.
Please leave any fossils that you find on site.
To get to the parking coordinates, drive east down Main Street
to the end where it meets Shore Road. You'll see a house ahead, and
a short paved road to a grassy spot. The road and grassy spot are
municipal property. Park here. From this location you can see the
path to the beach.
In order to log this earth cache, please do
the following:
1. Email me your estimate of the width of
the seam in which the fossil forest is located.
2. If you find a fossil or two, great! Post a picture of these and
give a hypothesis as to what the fossil is. If you don't find one,
please don't disturb the cliff wall looking for one. Instead, post
a picture of a chunk of coal that has fallen from the cliff, and
provide a hypothesis as to why the coal is here.***Remember, please
do NOT remove any of the fossils from this site.***
