EARTHCACHE REQUIREMENTS
Each cacher must send his/her own answers BEFORE logging a find. ... "Geocachers must complete the tasks before they log the EarthCache as found." (4.3. EarthCache logging tasks)
Enjoy the journey (learning adventure) as well as the destination (smiley earned). Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. To get credit for this Earthcache, complete the following tasks:
NOTE: Answers via message -and- two log signature pictures are required to post a find for this cache.
You will be visiting the outdoor display at the Marienville Ranger Station.
The Ranger Station is currently closed to the public. The foyer with brochures -and- the outdoor display are open to the public.
1. MESSAGE …. LARGE FOSSIL a. Describe. / b. Name of fossil. / c. Type of fossil. / d. Part of tree. / e. Size (LxW) Estimate - DO NOT touch. / f. matrix
2. MESSAGE …. SMALL FOSSIL a. Describe. / b. Name of fossil. / c. Type of fossil. / d. Part of tree. / e. Size (LxW) Estimate - DO NOT touch. / f. matrix
3a. LOG ... Post a picture of you or your signature item at or near the coordinates. This is log signature picture 1.
3b. LOG ... Find another fossil within the ANF region. Post a picture of of you or your signature item with your discovery fossil. This is log signature picture 2.
OPTIONAL - Please respect the time and effort involved in finding and creating this earthcache by adding A B C to your log.
A. Discover another fossil in/around the ANF, Give coordinates. Identify your fossil. If you found your fossil at a geocache/earthcache site, give name of the cache and GC number instead of cooordinates
B. JOURNEY OF THE MIND ... Science explains what we observe. Relate (in your own words) something you found interesting in the reading. This adds to your learning adventure and your log.
C. JOURNEY OF THE HEART ... Art shares our personal experience of what we see. Share something special you found on site, and why it is special to you ... prose / story / poem / picture. This is a memorable addition to your log and will make other hearts smile.
Journeys of Heart and Mind ...
Stories to Touch the Heart and Puzzles to Challenge the Mind / Rainbow Tree Story
THANK YOU LN for travelling and hiking with RT to complete this Earthcache Trail.
THANK YOU ANF staff for your help and support of the Earthcache Trail caches in the Allegheny National Forest.
THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
"Some 445 million years ago, what is now the Allegheny National Forest was submerged beneath a shallow, inland sea. Over time, weathered material eroded from ancient mountains in eastern Pennsylvania and filled in the sea floor. These deposits left large rocky outcrops, known as Olean conglomerates, which are seen throughout the Allegheny National Forest today. Mud and sand was also deposited, burying microscopic marine life and creating the rich oil deposits by which Pennsylvania would later become so well known." ANF
FOSSILS IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
There are two fossils at this site. Both were discovered on the ANF and brought here for display. These are remnants of fossil trees common here during the Carboniferous Period, 300 million years ago. Living relatives of these ancient giants are the ground pines and ground cedars. Fossil hunting is allowed in the ANF, but it is asked that only pictures be taken, leaving the fossils for others to discover and enjoy.
FOSSILS - Fossils are the remains or impression of a prehistoric organism.
TYPES - There are FOUR main types of fossils.
TRUE FORM - actual animal or animal part.
MOLD - impression
CAST - formed when a mold is filled in
TRACE - evidence left by the organism like burrows, footprints, etc.
FOSSILIZATION - There are SIX ways that organisms turn into fossils.
UNALTERED - insects trapped in amber (hardened form of tree sap
PERMINERALIZATION and PETRIFICATION - minerals replace the tissues
REPLACEMENT - minerals replace the hard parts
CARBONIZATION - only the carbon remains
RECRYSTALIZATION - small crystals turn into larger crystals
AUTHIGENIC - molds and casts that have been destroyed or dissolved
MATRIX - The rock the fossils are embedded in is called the matrix. This can vary from soft to hard.
SOFT - you can use your fingers and a brush to extract the fossils.
HARD - use of a tool is needed to extract the fossils.
RESOURCES ... How Do Fossils Form ... Fossil Identification
POLICY ... Rock-Hounding/Fossil Collecting ANF https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/allegheny/recreation/rocks-minerals
In most areas "Rock hounding" does not require special permission or fee payment when done as recreation, and is consistent with local management objectives. To make sure special permission or fee payment is not necessary please contact the District office in the area you wish to "Rock hound" in.
Forest visitors are welcome to pick up mineral specimens, rock samples, invertebrate fossil casts and molds, geodes, or other earth oddities, and to pan for gold using hand tools. Collecting can be done on National Forest System lands where minerals are owned by others, including areas under federal lease, as long as it does not materially interfere with the rights granted to the mineral permittee/lessee