[sotd] Carboniferous Forest Discovered [March 5, 2008]
- From: "The Site of the Day" <sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: sotd@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 05 Mar 2008 10:52:45 -0400
Site of the Day for Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Carboniferous Forest Discovered
Today's site, from the eminent Smithsonian Institute, trumpets the
discovery of a 300 million year old fossil forest in Illinois. Gentle
Subscribers will unearth images and information about this remarkable find
in the eastern part of the state.
"[Scientists] discovered the remains of one of the world's oldest tropical
rainforests, preserved in the ceiling of a coal mine 250 feet below the
surface. ... The rainforest extends over more than four square miles as the
roof of two adjacent underground coal mines in eastern Illinois. This may
be the largest single-time-period fossil forest found in the fossil
record." - from the website
The web page provides an overview of this spectacular paleobotanical
discovery which is allowing researchers to explore and examine a huge
wealth of fossilized plant material from the Paleozoic era. The article
notes some of the details about the fossil forest, including a brief
explanation of how it was preserved and the types of plant life which have
been found within it, along with some striking photos of this underground,
prehistoric forest. Visitors are encouraged to further explore this amazing
find by following the link to the Illinois State Geological survey site,
where more detailed material and images can be found.
Burrow over to the web page for information about this notable prehistoric
botanical discovery at:
http://www.mnh.si.edu/highlight/riola/
A.M. Holm
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