Many 'trace fossils' exist at this Veterans Overlook. You may ask, "How are trace fossils different from regular fossils?" Trace fossils are indirect evidence of ancient life. They refer to features in rocks, such as footprints, tracks, trails, or burrows. The fossils here at the Veterans Overlook are referred to as Arthrophycus Alleghaniensis trace fossils, and were likely made by an arthropod, probably a trilobite (see GC23HW7) or horseshoe crabs.
These fossils originated from nearby 4,690' Clinch Mountain which was once under water. The critters tunneled through a muddy and sandy substrate within a shallow marine environment. Over time, the mud turned to shale, a process geologists call lithification. As the mudstone (shale) weathered away, the trace fossils were exposed in the bottom of the sandstone layer.
The rock wall which partially surrounds the Overlook is made of many types of beautiful and ancient rocks from the nearby mountain range. To get credit for this Earth Cache, please do the following:
1. Post a picture of yourself with the fossil slab of your choice.
2. Looking at the top surfaces of the rock wall from one end to the other, count how many of them (the top ones) contain the fossils pictured here.
3. Briefly explain the difference between trace fossils and 'normal' fossils.
For logging the earth cache, follow the Log a Cache directions exactly.
Do not put answers to 2 and 3 in your log.