ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST DISCOVERY SERIES
Each of the earthcaches in this series will take you along roads and trails
to discover the wonders that exist in and around the ANF (513,175 acres).
Elk - Forest - McKean - Warren
This discovery series was developed as a heartfelt THANK YOU to all who completed the requirements as requested, and wrote positive logs worth the time to read. Complete 24 ECT caches. Send a list of logs (GL links) via message for verification of requirements. Arrange to meet at Cache Condo to pick up your trackable coin.
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- log signature picture are required to post a find for this cache.
1. MESSAGE …. Find four fossils. a. Identify. / b. Type of fossil. / c. Type of fossilization
2. MESSAGE …. Identify the matrix.
3. MESSAGE …. Describe the shale outcrop.
4. LOG …. Post pics of your finds. Post a picture of your discovery fossil. These pictures are your log signature. No spoiler pics.
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 KNAPAHOLIC for discovering/sharing this location.
The middle picture shows the crinoid casts RTLN found.
The most common fossils found here are brachiopods (left picture) and trilobites (right picture).
FOSSIL SITE
This area was once covered by a warm, shallow sea. Organisms that died were buried under tons of sediment, many becoming fossilized. Since most of McKean County was left unglaciated, these fossils were not destroyed by the grinding action of the glaciers. This is a shale bank embedded predominantly with fossil molds. The most common fossils are two arthropods - brachiopods and trilobites. This is among the most accessible places to hunt fossils that we have encountered. Have fun -and- Happy fossil hunting!
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.
TYPES OF SHALE
BLACK - lots of organics
GRAY - low organics
RED - fully oxidized iron
GREEN - partially reduced iron
MCCREADY - salt and gypsum
FOSSILS IN THE ALLEGHENY NATIONAL FOREST
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
RESOURCES
How Do Fossils Form ... https://www.livescience.com/37781-how-do-fossils-form-rocks.html
Fossil Identification ... https://www.fossilguy.com/id_papers/index.htm
Pennsylvania and the Ice Age ... http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_014595.pdf
Common Fossils of Pennsylvania ... http://panaturekids.com/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_014599~2.pdf