The Smallest Stone Circle in the Worle EarthCache
Hidden : 2/14/2020
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:


There’s an EarthCache at The Smallest Stone Circle in the World (GC59521)- now there’s one for the smallest (and possibly only) stone circle in Worle!

The stone circle is in an unusual location: sandwiched right between a bus terminus and a fast food restaurant.

A greyscaled image of the stone circle.




Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and arangonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate. Most limestone is composed of skeletal fragments of marine organisms (such as molluscs). Limestone makes up about 10% of the total volume of all sedimentary rocks. Limestone's strength and easy ability to carve make it a good building material and this, along with local availability, is most likely why limestone was chosen as the rock type to make these stones.

Carboniferous Limestone is a specific type of limestone that formed during the Carboniferous era, between 363 million and 325 million years ago. It tends to form the main underlying bedrock this area. There is something particularly different about this limestone, but I’ll let you find that out!

A fossil is the preserved remains or trace of a dead organism. When an organism died millions of years ago, any soft material (skin, organs etc.) decayed, while hard material (teeth, bones, shells) did not and remained. Left untouched on the ground or sea bed, they were gradually covered over by sediment. Carboniferous Limestone formed in marine conditions, so the fossils consist of hard shells which were covered up and compressed by the silt on the sea floor, leaving impressions in the newly formed sedimentary rock- fossils. The density of fossils in a stone gives an indication of how active the waters were- if it was covered in fossils (dense), this indicates that the seas at the time were full of life- organisms that eventually became fossils. Likewise, a stone with fossils present, but not many (sparse), would indicate that the waters were less active with marine life.

Questions
To log this EarthCache, please send the answers to the following questions by email or message. Due to owning many EarthCaches I receive numerous emails per day so there is often a delay in replying, therefore feel free to log before awaiting a reply. Only answers that are drastically incorrect or photos that reveal answers will be deleted.

1. Have a look and feel of the rocks in the stone circle. Describe the colour, texture and sizes of the stone.

2. Have a look at the fossils. What size and shape are they? Are the fossils dense or sparse in quantity? What creatures do you think the fossils are of?

3. Would you say the backs of the stones (outward facing) have more or less fossils than the fronts (inward facing)?

4. Nearby are 10 small boulders. Do you think these are the same rock type as the stone in the circle or different? Why do you think this?

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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