Welcome to the Paulding County Fossil Garden!
In the middle of the seemingly endless sea of cornfields that make up much of western Ohio is an oasis for fossils - the Paulding County Fossil Garden! Supplied using rock dug out from the nearby quarry, you'll be able to find many different types of fossils. To claim this Earthcache, you'll need to do just that!
Silica Formation
Roughly 390 Million Years ago, much of present-day Michigan and Northwest Ohio was part of a shallow body of water referred to as the Michigan Basin. This aquatic environment was home to many different types of creatures that you can now find as fossils in the area. As sediment slowly accumulated in the bottom of the Michigan Basin, this resulted in the creation of the Silica Formation (named for the small town of Silica, Ohio). This formation consists of about 55 feet of rock right under your feet! The Silica Formation is made up of layers of limestone and shale, depending on the water quality of the Michigan Basin. When the water was fairly clear, the small particles of sediment formed limestone. When the water was murky, the relatively large particles settled to form the shale layers. Limestone is a lighter colored rock, while shale is a slightly darker colored rock. You can use the image below as a reference!
Fossil Formation
Fossils form through a complex and extended process beginning with the death of an organism. Ideally, for fossilization to occur, the remains need to be rapidly buried by sediment such as mud, sand, or volcanic ash, which helps to protect them from decay and scavengers. Over time, additional layers of sediment accumulate, and the pressure from these layers compresses the underlying sediments. This compression squeezes out water and air, and minerals dissolved in groundwater seep through the sediments, gradually replacing the original organic material with minerals in a process known as permineralization. As the organic tissues are replaced by minerals, the remains become fossilized. In some cases, the original materials may completely dissolve away, leaving an imprint or mold that can later be filled with other sediments or minerals to create a cast of the organism. The fossils found at the Paulding County Fossil Garden are from the Devonian age, ranging from roughly 420 to 360 Million Years ago! Below is an image of fossils commonly found at the Fossil Park: Brachiopods, Trilobites, and Horn Corals.
About the Garden
Opened in 2016, the Paulding County Fossil Garden is a haven for fossil hunters! The rock is placed by the nearby quarry who constructed the park. They refill the rock once a year to help keep the fossil hunt going! Parking is available in the gravel strip in the park, and you are welcome to search for fossils as long as you follow the basic rules posted at the entrance.
EARTHCACHE LOGGING REQUIREMENTS
Please submit your answers within seven days of your online log.
0) What is the name and GC Code of the Earthcache you are submitting answers for?
1) Observe the rock found in the Fossil Garden. Describe its appearance (texture, color, etc.) Do you think the rock is shale or limestone?
2) Try to find a fossil - they're very common in the park! What kind of fossil did you find? What observation led you to that conclusion?
3) Upload a photo of yourself (or a personal item) at the Fossil Garden. Please also add a photo of the fossil you used for Question 2!
Please submit answers to me (either through the Geocaching.com Message System or an email) within seven days of your found it log. You are more than welcome to send answers before positng your log as well.
Thanks for visiting!