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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary K-T boundary Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA. The ruler and brush rest on the top of the K-T boundary layer. Below it is a mudstone deposit of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous)
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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary K-T boundary Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA. The ruler and brush rest on the top of the K-T boundary layer. Below it is a mudstone deposit of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous)
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GEOLOGY: K-T boundary - K-T boundary Sussex locality, Wyoming, USA.
The ruler and brush rest on the top of the K-T boundary layer. Below it is a mudstone deposit of the Lance Formation (Cretaceous). Above it 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. 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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Claystone Coal Cretaceous Digs Equipment Excavation Excavations Extinction Field Study K T Boundary Kt Boundary Layers Mudstone Palaeontology Paleontology Prehistoric Quartz Rocks Scientific Strata Tertiary Tools
Unearthing the Secrets of Time - A Playful Encounter with Earth's History
EDITORS COMMENTS
. In this snapshot, we witness a fascinating journey through time as François Gohier delves into the geological wonders of Sussex locality in Wyoming, USA. With precision and curiosity, he explores the renowned K-T boundary - a pivotal moment marking the extinction of dinosaurs. As if frozen in anticipation, a ruler and brush delicately rest upon the K-T boundary layer. Just below lies an enchanting mudstone deposit from the Cretaceous era, while above it proudly stands a coal bed from the Tertiary period. The gray to white kaolinitic claystone forms this distinctive boundary layer – less than 2 cm thick but brimming with secrets waiting to be unraveled. Upon closer inspection under microscopic lenses, sand grains reveal their fractured beauty like intricate works of art. These "shocked quartz" specimens hint at cataclysmic events that unfolded eons ago. With meticulous analysis, Gohier detects traces of iridium within both the claystone layer and its carbonaceous counterpart above. Such findings offer invaluable insights into past ecosystems and catastrophic changes that shaped our planet's history. This mesmerizing image encapsulates not only scientific exploration but also ignites our imagination about prehistoric times. It serves as a reminder that beneath our feet lie countless stories waiting to be discovered – tales told by rocks and layers that whisper secrets spanning millions of years.
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