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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary The K-T boundary claystone layer at the Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA. At bottom of the image is the mudstone of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous)
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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary The K-T boundary claystone layer at the Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA. At bottom of the image is the mudstone of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous)
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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary - The K-T boundary claystone layer at the Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA
At bottom of the image is the mudstone of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous). On top is a coal bed of the Tullock Member of the Fort Union Formation (Tertiary). The K-T boundary layer is the gray to white kaolinitic claystone, less than 2 cm thick, at about the middle of the photo. On top of it is a darker, laminated layer a few millimeters thick, containing sand grains, many of them showing multiple sets of parallel fractures ("shocked quartz") under the microscope. Iridium can be detected in the claystone layer and in the carbonaceous layer immediately above it.
Francois Gohier
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Unearthing the Secrets of Time - A Snapshot from Earth's Past
EDITORS COMMENTS
. In this photo print, we journey back in time to the Sussex locality in Wyoming, USA. Here, geology enthusiasts and paleontologists are treated to a remarkable sight - the K-T boundary claystone layer. This thin gray to white kaolinitic claystone, less than 2 cm thick, marks a significant moment in Earth's history. Beneath this ancient layer lies the mudstone of the Lance Formation from the Cretaceous period. Above it rests a coal bed belonging to the Tullock Member of the Fort Union Formation from the Tertiary era. It is within this delicate boundary that scientists have made astonishing discoveries. Upon closer inspection, one can observe a darker laminated layer containing sand grains with multiple sets of parallel fractures known as "shocked quartz". These microscopic wonders provide evidence of an extraordinary event that occurred millions of years ago. Delving deeper into their analysis, researchers have detected traces of iridium both in the claystone layer and immediately above it in the carbonaceous layer. Such findings shed light on past extinction events and offer valuable insights into our planet's prehistoric timeline. This mesmerizing photograph by François Gohier captures not only layers upon layers of rock but also scientific curiosity at its peak. Join us on this thrilling excavation through time as we uncover nature's hidden treasures and unlock secrets buried deep within Earth's geological tapestry.
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