Re: Canadian Coal and dinosaurs

On Wed, 10 Mar 2004 07:05:22 -0700 "Kevin Sharman" <ksharman@pris.bc.ca>
writes:

> > > Between these coal bearing units
> > > are thick, monotonous sequences of shale and siltstone with marine
fossils
> > > and high sulphide sulphur content. These shale units do not have
coal OR
> > > dinosaur tracks. Care to explain why coal and tracks are only
found in the
> > > units mentioned, and not in the thick shales?

> > That's a nice observation. How abundant are the marine fossils? We
have
> > many carbonates, shales and sandstones in Alabama with no fossils
> > whatsoever.

> Nice sidestep of the question, Bill. These shales have abundant
microfauna
> (foraminifera) and less abundant macrofauna (mainly ammonites). Now
care to
> answer the question?

Sorry, by saying "nice observation" I was agreeing with you; you have
presented good evidence for coal associated with shallow or emergent land
deposition, and offshore marine deposition for the shale/siltstone units.

> I take this as an admission from you that the floating mat scenario is
much
> less probable than the mainstream in situ model for Mesozoic and
younger
> coals. Thanks; it only took us 3 months.

As you know, these paradigms are hard to break. Yes, I tend to agree
with you at this time that the in situ model does a better job overall of
explaining the younger coals we have discussed. However, it will take me
some time to process my way through all of the information we have
discussed, and I still feel that there are points where your model is
weak. At this point I will say that you have done an excellent job of
arguing your position, and I sincerely thank you for your efforts.

> Now you want to continue your floating mat scenario for Paleozoic
coals,
> which in most respects are the same as post-Paleozoic ones. Difference
in
> vegetation types is not enough to propose a completely different mode
of
> formation.

I believe we will find more difference than only vegetation types. But
you may prove me wrong!

Bill

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Received on Sun Mar 14 01:51:33 2004