This EarthCache takes you to rocks from the Carboniferous Period. During this period, the environmental conditions varied, and this is demonstrated in the geology shown here. There lead to a succession of geological rocks, which were laid down when Scotland covered with a vast river delta, and then a shallow tropical sea. In both of these environments, sediment was deposited. In the case of the river deltas, it lead to sand and mud being deposited, with layer upon layer being deposited, and over millenia, these compacted, and sandstone and siltstone formed. In the case of the shallow tropical sea, lime mud and the remains of ancient sea creatures built up layers of sediment, and over time limestone was formed.
We are here to look at the limestone block, with the below photograph indicating where to look.
🤔 We are here to look for evidence of life in the tropical sea.
We are here to look at a coral fossil in the rock. Fossils are the trace of an animal, plant or activity by an organism. These have become part of the rock structure, hence why are found in rock.
Coral, was and still does form part of our ecosystem. There are lots of different types of corals, and fossil corals, with many of the fossilcoral belonging to the genus known as Rugosa. This was a much varied type, and it is now extinct, dying out in the Permian period. Rugosa corals come in many forms, but basically they are either colonial or singular. The living part of the coral was known as the polyp, and it lived in a hard body formed of calcite. It is that body that we can now see as fossils. Some corals were filter feeders of algae and plankton, whilst others were carnivorous, some with stinging tentacles. The type of rugosa coral here is known as Koninckophyllum.
This being an EarthCache, in order to log it, I ask that you complete the below tasks. Please send the answers to me, and do not include them in your log. You can send them to me by using the message facility or email, both of which can be found by looking at my profile.
1. Please describe the Koninckophyllum in terms of shapes and colours.
2. Why is there fossil coral in the limestone?