This Earthcache will bring you to the rock platform at Penguin Head,Culburra Beach.
The rocky point here consists of a large vast flat area of intertidal rocks that hold some very interesting and unusual volcanic gas bubble formations scattered around the GZ site.
As you make your way down the path, around the grass point and towards GZ, you will start to notice some of these strange bubble shapes in the rock.
These rock formations are caused by underground volcanic activity millions of years ago. The gas bubbles over time would have been pushed slowly upwards towards the surface and now form these very interesting and unusual shapes and have now become the micro environments for many sea animals and algae.
This site has been named by some of the Culburra Beach locals as the "Terracotta Pots" or "Dinosaur Eggs"and It's easy to see why.
Searching the area you will notice that most of the bubbles are very smooth and are orange in a colour that is very different to the rock platform that surrounds. Some of these bubbles appear to have a more aggressive looking burst then others. This would have been caused by volcanic gas bubbles being raised to the surface more quickly then others. Some of these bubbles have reached the surface more slowly releasing their gases at the surface but not completely bursting it's bubble and leaving behind what looks like a "Dinosaur Egg" formation in the rock today.
I recommend spending sometime searching around the site. If you continue your walk past GZ and explore more of the rock platform you may also be lucky to spot some tiny fossils.
To log this Earthcache you need to visit the site and complete these 3 simple activities.
1 - Measure the length, width and depth of your favorite bubble(or it's height,if you choose an egg)
2 - What did you find living in a bubble?
3 - Say out loud "Bubble Blowin 'Burra", five times as quickly as you can without getting tongue tied at first attempt...hehehehe
Please send your answers when logging your find.
Enjoy the earth!!!!!