Fossils in Coldwater Cave

Coldwater Cave is a large cave system found underneath corn fields and pastures of northeast Iowa. Several beds of crinoids have been found in Coldwater Cave in Winneshiek County.  Crinoid fossils found in the Coldwater Cave are fossils of sea lilies and feather stars.  
 

• How could sea water fossils be found in a cave?

• What was the ancient environment for the fossils in Coldwater Cave?
• How could the environment change so much from ancient times? 

Students could:

• Create a display showing fossils and their modern counterparts that are found in Iowa. 
• Compare and contrast fossils that have modern counterparts and fossils that do not have modern counterparts. 
• Discuss the ancient environment that would have been found in Coldwater Cave and how this environment changed over time.
• Research and discuss how Iowa’s landscape has changed over the history of the Earth.  
• Brainstorm the ordering of the layer of rock within Coldwater Cave and why fossils would have been found on the ceiling.
• Brainstorm how seafloor organism fossils would be found in Iowa. 

• Floyd County Conservation | Fossils!:  This article describes the different Devonian Period fossils that can be found at the Fossil and Prairie Park Preserve. 
• The Paleontology Portal:  This resource explains where ancient geological rock formations in the State of Iowa are as well as providing links for more information about Iowa’s fossils.