The Rocks of St. Andrews EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
The Rocks of St Andrews
The coordinates point to a rock formation that is always visible, even when the tide is in.
During high tide it might be tricky to get to those rocks without getting your feet wet but it should be possible.
Volcanoes, tropical swamps and the power of the sea have all helped to shape the landscape you see today. The rock formations have especially been shaped by the tide which ceaselessly eroded the soft sandstones on this beach as well as along the entire coast in the kingdom of Fife. Here on these rocks you can see quite clearly how the saltwater has eaten away more and more and has slowly dug holes, caves and arcs into the stone. This process was helped by the wind and rain that have further weathered the stone and made it easier for the salt water to work on the stone.
The Carboniferous sandstones at St Andrews beach are approximately 335 million years old. They are part of the Asbian, Calciferous Sandstone Series. .
Fossils can be found in loose pebbles or observed in situ within the exposed rock strata. Plant fossils are the most common, with examples of Stigmaria sp. being fairly abundant. Some red coloured rocks are packed with bivalve fossils, but these are scarce.
In order to log this Earthcache, you need to answer the following questions to my account:
1. Estimate the approximate height and breadth of the rock formation stating whether you have visited it at high or low tide.
2. Climb on the rock and find the exact nook in which you can see me sitting in the photograph. How could you explain its shape?
3. How many big caves have been dug into this rock?
4. Please take a photo of you and/or your GPSr situated on or near the rocks (see my picture). I perfectly fit in here - do you?
Have fun visiting this special location with excellent views of the St. Andrews skyline! You can log this cache as soon as you have sent the answers. If there is something wrong, we will contact you. Happy caching!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)