Earthcachers should ensure that they leave no trace of their visit on the site, and not disturb wildlife, geological features or habitats. With these conditions, the cache is published with the permission of the Scottish Wildlife Trust Reserve Manager.
Carlingnose point has several different habitats reflecting the underlying geology. Much of this area is Carboniferous limestone, sheltered from erosion by a harder igneous dolerite intrusion. The coastal scrub and grassland is on the limestone, while the dolerite has been extensively quarried to form the cliffs which are now visible.
The limestone leads to calcerous grassland, a rare habitat in Fife, and here is it designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The information panel at N 56° 00.725 W 003° 23.328 describes some of the flora and fauna found in the Reserve.
At the coordinates, you are standing beside one of the former quarries. The cliffside is crisscrossed by lines, natural joints in the rock. Water seeps into these joints and erodes the rock. Where the joints meet, there is erosion from both sides, causing more damage at the intersection, forming these spherical shapes in the cliff, and in boulders that have fallen to the bottom.
To log this cache, please email the cache owner the answers to the following questions BEFORE you log the cache. Logs without associated emails will be deleted. The answers can be found at the cache site and the information panel.
1) The dolerite is harder than the surrounding limestone. By looking around at the quarry, the information panel, and/or considering a map of the coastline, explain how Man has taken advantage of this dolerite intrusion.
2) Another feature of this type of erosion is the formation of “rindlets” or concentric rings around uneroded rocks, known as "core stones". There are examples at the waypoint. They are often compared to a vegetable, which one? Please post a photo, or photo of a sketch or rubbing of the rindlets with your log.
We'd love to see a photo of you or your GPSr at the cache site, but this is not necessary to log the cache.