Limestone Smorgasbord
Cachers, Thanks to the Ministry of Transportation
you are standing on the breakwater of Earth Cache Happiness
From Fossils, to Fractures
Infusions and potholes, you'll find it hear
As Described by Wikipedia:
Limestone is a sedimentary composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite,
which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
Like most other sedimentary rocks, most limestone is composed of grains.
Most grains in limestone are skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as
coral or forminifera. Other carbonate grains comprising limestones are
ooids, peloids, intraclasts, and extraclasts.
These organisms secrete shells made of aragonite or calcite,
and leave these shells behind after the organisms die.
OK and now that I have lost all of you with that description, lets simplify this.
1) Limestone is a sedimentary rock, meaning formed by the deposits on minerals.
2) Limestone can appear layered, or solid to the naked eye
3) Limestone can contain fossils
4) Limestone can contain infusions of other minerals or rock
5) Limestone can be shaped by water and sand moving
6) Limestone can be cut or shaped by humans easily
At GZ you will be looking for
Fossils
Fossils are plants and skeletons preserved in rock,
When the preserved thing decays there is an impression left in the rock.
marine fossils are marine animals, plants, or shells (basically anything in the water, hence marine) are now fossils.
Infusions
Infusion is described as one type on mineral or rock infused with in a host rock, in this case Limestone
The infusion took place while the limestone was forming
Often the infusion is a crystal like rock.
Potholes
Potholes are formed when sand or small stones are ground in a circular
pattern on the surface of a rock, over time boring an indent into the host rock
creating a pothole
Layered Limestone
Some lime stone has obvious layers. If you look and try, you might be able to separate the layers
by hand, and you just never know what you will find between the layers
and
Solid Limestone
This limestone appears to be solid to the naked eye.
in a lot of the blocks found at GZ, you can see the bore holes, where
explosives were placed to break the rocks into smaller
more manageable pieces.
To log this earth Cache, you will pick 2 from the list above and send me the
answers via. my Geocaching profile
Fossil Questions
1) Describe 2 types of fossils found here, are they Concave (Indented) or
Convex(Sticking out from the limestone) or both?
2)What type of Fossil is there the most of at GZ?
Infusion Questions
1)What is the color and texture of the infused rock found in the Limestone?
2)Can you guess what the infused rock/mineral is?
3) Can infusion be found in the limestone with layers, or just the solid limestone?
Pothole Questions
1) Feel the potholes, are they smooth of rough on the bottom?
2) Are there fossils in the block of Limestone that have potholes?
Why do you think that is ?
Layered Limestone Questions
1) Pull apart a piece of limestone, and describe what it looks like between the layers
2) Did you find a fossil in the layers? What kind?
3) Is there layered Limestone that could not be separated?
Solid Limestone
1)Find a block of Solid Limestone, and look really close, is it really solid
or are the layers just really tightly packed?
2)Look around near GZ, is there any solid limestone exposed (Not including the break water)
3) Why do you think limestone was used to build this break water?
This Earth Cache is meant to teach you a bit about Geology, it is not meant to stress you out
about sending perfect answers.
Do your best, and have fun.
Please do not attempt this Earth Cache until 9 am on August 25th, 2012