GC1CRJQ Clitheroe Crinoids - 340 Million Years B.C. (Traditional Cache) in North West England, United Kingdom created by Handymits and Lemurmatt

This cache has been archived.

Alba15: As the owner has not responded to my previous log requesting that they check this cache I am archiving it.

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Alba15
Volunteer UK Reviewer - geocaching.com
UK Geocaching Information & Resources site http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk/resources/

GC1CRJQ ▼

A cache by Handymits and Lemurmatt Message this owner

Hidden : 5/30/2008

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Near the Clitheroe Geology Trail - cache is a plastic lid and lock box in woodland quite close to the best fossil finding area on the trail. Plenty of parking is available at N53°52.769 W002°22.368.

340 million years ago Clitheroe was on the Equator, and under a shallow sea. Many of the limestone and mudstone reefs that were left have since been quarried but some remain - see Martha's Cache close by. Salthill Quarry was worked until 1959 but now, although it is home to most of Clitheroe's light industry, you can also find plenty of evidence of its tropical past.

Most of the fossils you can find near the cache are crinoids or "sea lilies". Apparently these were (and still are) animals rather than plants, and could creep along the ocean floor. You'll find the fossilised stems everywhere around here - and in many of Clitheroe's buildings if you look closely. Please don't bring a hammer though - you're free to pick up any small loose fossils you find but extracting them from the rocks seems to be a big no-no.

While you're there have a look at the new stone seat at the top of the slope. The sculpted stones at the back show what the crinoids were like before they were fossilised.

Note - original cache container has been replaced by a slightly smaller one.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Haqre n cvyr bs ebpxf oruvaq n gerr

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)