The listed coords will bring you next to a bench with some historic information on it. In the ground next to the bench are a series of Fossils.
The learning element of this cache is to understand what a fossil is and how they are formed. What kind of rock fossils are found in and also identify the fossils found at GZ.
Firstly Geology of The Crystal Palace area. Below is a Geology map of the UK and a zoomed in one of the London area:
Crystal Palace predominantly has London clay underneath it and no limestone.
What is a fossil?
Fossils are physical evidence of prehistoric animals and plants. They tell us about the history of our planet, from climate and evolution to diets and diseases.
There may be more to these prehistoric remains than you ever realised.
When an organism dies and is quickly covered by layers of mud, sand or silt, it has the potential to become a fossil.
Rather than rotting away, some parts of its body are replaced by minerals. In some cases, such as for small soft-bodied animals, this process can take just months, or even days. For larger things, such as big dinosaur bones, fossilisation can take thousands of years.
What kind of rock are fossils found in?
Almost all fossils are preserved in sedimentary rock. Organisms that live in topographically low places (such as lakes or ocean basins) have the best chance of being preserved. This is because they are already in locations where sediment is likely to bury them and shelter them from scavengers and decay.
What is sedimentary rock?
Sedimentary rock is a type of rock that forms when layers of sediment are compacted and cemented together. Sediment can come from pre-existing rocks or from the remains of organisms that were once alive. The layers of sediment are deposited on the Earth's surface by wind, water, or ice, and over time accumulate to form sedimentary rock.
Sedimentary rocks are often soft and can crumble easily. They are commonly found with fossils because the processes that create other types of rock, like igneous and metamorphic, involve heat and pressure that would destroy fossils.
Sedimentary rocks are classified into three groups: clastic, biologic, and chemical. Some examples of sedimentary rocks include limestone and sandstone
Fossils found in Jurassic Limestone:
Below is a chart showing a few classic fossils found in Jurassic limestone:
So to the questions. Please answer the questions below and either message or mail me the answers. You can log your find immediately after sending me your answers.
1. Typically what type of rock are fossils found in?
2. Briefly describe what a fossil is?
3. Look below your feet and find one of the fossils. Describe what it looks like and whether it is smooth or has indentations.
4. Please identify the fossil from the chart above
5. Please tell me whether you think the fossil is local. Give two reasons justifying your answer.
6. Please study the bench...... Charles Darwin and who? Bought season tickets to the park?
7. Finally take a picture of yourself or something that recognises yourself with the "Fossil Hunter" sign on the bench.
Thanks for completing the tasks and hope that you have learnt something. Also a big thanks to Steve Phillips at Bromley Council for granting permission for this cache.