Dinosaurs 4500 years ago

Well, get back there soon, just trying to set the stage.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Well, good, I don't think there should be a Permian layer there according to the HP theory (I could be wrong). However, there should be one inland, and that is what we find. I believe part of central Texas is called the permian Basin... I can't remember exactly where.

Thank you for your reply. This was what I was asking, because I know that the Permian layer is exposed in areas. Am I right in saying that the iridium layer marks the "extinction event" and the top of the Permian layer, and that Iridum is commonly found in asteroids? Just need to make sure I've got it straight.

The Delaware Basin was a deep, smallish sea next to a large area of desert. In the wet season each year, silt washen in from rivers and critters/algae grew up near the surface, where there was light and oxygen. In the dry season, winds blew angular, faceted sand over the surface, and some sank. No erosion was going on 1000 meters down in the sea, and the area apparently kept subsiding over A Long Time to allow the few million alternate layers to build up.El Capitan at the south end of the Guadelupe Mts. in New Mexico and Texas. It's near Carlsbad Caverns.

The place I'm sitting is on the Permian Basin's east edge. It's 1 to 2 km deep to the top of Permian most places out here - though it's on surface on to the east. I'll look at my map at work tomorrow and tell you more exactly where.And I won't tell these West Texans that you said "central Texas" - they get real touchy about that kinda stuff out here. Edit to add: I wasn't too clear on that El Capitan/the Guadelupes and the Delaware Basin have Permian at the surface.This message has been edited by Coragyps, 07-21-2004 11:34 PM

Thank you for your reply. Ah, I see. Makes a little more sense now. Where is the Delaware Basin located now? That's what I thought you were talking about. I'm going through the caverns again in a couple of weeks on a road trip through NM with some friends... I'll be in search of evidence.I just realized that this topic was about dinosaurs and not the HP theory... Perhaps I should shut up.

Ha! that's right.. I should have looked at your profile. I've been through Snyder before on my way to New Mexico. In fact I'll probably be passing through there in a couple of weeks.

That's okay, all of this will come together soon enough.On your road trip, be sure to try to get to see El Capitan. Now that's one muther reef.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I don't think we'll make it that far South, but we are going to Carlsbad Caverns, the White Sands, The valley of fire lava flow, El Malpais or the badlands, the Bandera volcano, the ice cave, Petroglyph monument, a dinosaur museum in Albuquerque and hopefully top it off by climbing wheeler peak.All in all, I hope to get some very good pictures of geologic formations.

They are some wonderful places. I really enjoyed living out there and getting to see some of those things.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

I don't know if any iridium has been found associated with the permian extinction. You might try a google for that.The known iridium is at the K-T boundry from the end of the Cretaceous. (end of dinosaurs).Iridium is dense. So the earth's surface is depleted in it. Meteor's (and presumably asteroids) are richer in it.

Wave - or call! - on your way through.
See if you can find "A Roadside Guide to New Mexico Geology" - the Texas equivalent is great! Very nice to tell what to look for and what it is you're seeing.
You can see El Capitan clearly from Carlsbad.This message has been edited by Coragyps, 07-21-2004 11:41 PM

Actually, the KT boundary is much, much more recent. Between the Permian and the KT boundary we see all of the Mesozoic Era; the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. While the Permian was between 300-250 million years ago, the KT boundary is almost yesterday, only about 65 Million years ago.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Before you make your road trip, This site with info on the area and the geology might help.

---

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

quote:

---

There is a process by which limestone can form quickly, but first I'd have to know... are the white cliffs of dover when analyzed diatomacious in nature or not? I'll have to look this up somewhere, if nobody knows. I have heard of thick layered limestone deposits similar that are not diatomacious.

---

errrr... I've never heard of diatomaceous limestone/chalk.I'm not saying limestone can't have diatoms, but generally diatoms do not occur in limestone in large enough amounts to warrant the descriptor "diatomaceous." At least not to my knowledge.Limestone and chalk are predominantly composed of carbonate (CaCO3), while diatomaceous earth or diatoms are composed of silica (SiO2).What exactly are you attempting to propose?This message has been edited by roxrkool, 07-22-2004 02:23 AM