Organ Cave
Organ Cave, in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, is a large cave system with over 45 miles of mapped passages, and over 200 leads that have yet to be explored and surveyed. The cave has been designated both a National Natural Landmark as well as a National Landmark of Historic Places.
The cave, as other caves, was formed due to rain water seeping down through the soil and becoming acidic, and in turn gradually dissolving the Mississippian age sedimentary limestone. The cave is abundant in fossils, with many fossils from sea life, as well as many mammals. One of the fossils discovered in the cave was a prehistoric three-toed sloth, called the Megalonyx Jeffersonii, being named after Thomas Jefferson, who researched the fossil. At the time it was alive, it stood between 9 and 10 tall, was about 20 feet in length, and each claw was about 8 inches long. The sloth was designated as the State Fossil for the State of West Virginia.
During a recent tour of the cave, I had the opportunity to talk with the owner. Upon learning of my interest, and that I collect items and present information about them on an on-line museum, she was gracious and gave me several rock and fossil specimens from the cave. Cave preservation is extremely important, and only through educating people will they understand why it is our responsibility to take proper care of the cave systems.
The following specimens were provided to me, having been collected in the cave. In order, they are a Chert (Flint) nodule, a specimen of Saltpeter, a specimen of Volcanic Glass, two specimens of Soda Straws (which are the earliest growth of a Stalactite), two specimens of Quartz, a Crinoid section, and a Brachiopod.
The cave, as other caves, was formed due to rain water seeping down through the soil and becoming acidic, and in turn gradually dissolving the Mississippian age sedimentary limestone. The cave is abundant in fossils, with many fossils from sea life, as well as many mammals. One of the fossils discovered in the cave was a prehistoric three-toed sloth, called the Megalonyx Jeffersonii, being named after Thomas Jefferson, who researched the fossil. At the time it was alive, it stood between 9 and 10 tall, was about 20 feet in length, and each claw was about 8 inches long. The sloth was designated as the State Fossil for the State of West Virginia.
During a recent tour of the cave, I had the opportunity to talk with the owner. Upon learning of my interest, and that I collect items and present information about them on an on-line museum, she was gracious and gave me several rock and fossil specimens from the cave. Cave preservation is extremely important, and only through educating people will they understand why it is our responsibility to take proper care of the cave systems.
The following specimens were provided to me, having been collected in the cave. In order, they are a Chert (Flint) nodule, a specimen of Saltpeter, a specimen of Volcanic Glass, two specimens of Soda Straws (which are the earliest growth of a Stalactite), two specimens of Quartz, a Crinoid section, and a Brachiopod.
