Fossils from the Emerald Isle EarthCache
Hidden : 11/21/2012
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


CONTEXT
 
This urban earth cache arises following completion in Summer 2012 of the Church Street Square development in central Birmingham. The area was previously a wide road with parking on either side. As visitors will see, the area has been transformed into a new open space with reduced road width, benches, trees, greenery and enhanced lighting. There is also a piece of public art called “Umbra” by Wolfgang Buttress.

 
GEOLOGY
 
The grey (or if it is wet, black) paving and benches in the area are made of limestone from Ireland. Approximately 40% of the island of Ireland is underlain by limestone. With minor exceptions, Irish limestones belong to two periods of geological history, one known as the Carboniferous (around 300–340 million years ago) and the other known as the Cretaceous (70–120 million years ago). Carboniferous limestones are found in almost every part of Ireland (every county except Antrim and Wicklow); Cretaceous limestone is found only in Ulster.

Limestones are rocks which are composed predominantly or entirely of calcite (calcium carbonate or dolomite (calcium/magnesium carbonate). Some limestones are almost pure carbonate, others contain substantial proportions of other material – most commonly sand, clay (mud or shale) and chert (very fine grained silica). The non-carbonate material may be distributed throughout the rock, may occur as small nodules or may be concentrated in distinct beds (most commonly, beds of shale) inter-bedded with the limestone.

Limestones can be formed in several different ways and in different geological situations, usually in the sea. They may be deposited in deep water far from land, in shallow water near the shore, or somewhere in between. Many limestones are predominantly composed of the calcareous shells or skeletons of marine organisms, but others are formed chemically by precipitation of carbonate from shallow waters.
 
FOSSILS
 
The limestone in Church Street Square is rich in fossils. Fossils are the remains or impression of prehistoric organisms preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock. Two types of fossil are particularly evident here as shown in this photograph.

 

EARTHCACHE

There is no information about the limestone in Church Street Square. Hence some research at home is likely to be required in addition to a physical visit. Before logging this earthcache you must email me the answers to the following questions:

Q1  Is this limestone Carboniferous or Cretaceous? Give a reason for your answer.
Q2  Identify the two fossil types in the picture above. I do not need the Latin names.
Q3  Measure the diameter of each of the two fossils in the picture above [at the listing co-ordinates; see also the hint].
Q4 Which of the two fossil types is most prevalent in the Church Street Square limestone?

Photographic evidence of your visit is not required but is welcome. I reserve the right to delete logs which do not comply with these requirements.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ba gur qvntbany arne Hzoen

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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