DOCSLIB.ORG

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests DRAFT Forest Assessments: Paleontological Resources November 2017

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests DRAFT Forest Assessments: Paleontological Resources November 2017 United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests DRAFT Forest Assessments: Paleontological Resources November 2017 Paleontologist Jim Jensen (Brigham Young University) working on large sauropod dinosaur forelimb replica (Supersaurus) excavated from Dry Mesa dinosaur quarry, Uncompahgre National Forest. In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected] (link sends e-mail). USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender. Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests DRAFT Forest Plan Assessments: Paleontological Resources Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................................ i Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 1 Key Issues for Paleontological Resources on the GMUG ......................................................................... 1 Summary Public Input ............................................................................................................................... 1 Use of Best Available Science .................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 2. Condition and Trends .............................................................................................................. 2 Current Condition of Known Paleontological Sites/Localities.................................................................... 2 Information Gap regarding Paleontological Resources ......................................................................... 2 Chapter 3. Sustainability ............................................................................................................................ 7 Environmental Sustainability of Paleontological Resources ..................................................................... 7 Economic Sustainability of Paleontological Resources ............................................................................. 7 Social Sustainability of Paleontological Resources ................................................................................... 7 Chapter 4. Current Forest Plan and its Context ....................................................................................... 8 Existing Forest Plan Management Direction for Paleontological Resources ............................................ 8 Chapter 5. Potential Need for Plan Changes to Respond to Paleontological Resource Issues ......... 8 References Cited ......................................................................................................................................... 9 Appendix A. Paleontological Resources Rapid Assessment System ................................................. 12 PRRAS value 0 ........................................................................................................................................ 13 PRRAS value 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 14 PRRAS value 2 ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Relation of FYPC Values to New Categorization System ....................................................................... 14 PRASS Categorization and Paleontological Resource Management ..................................................... 15 List of Tables Table 1. Paleontological Resource Rapid Assessment System values for GMUG National Forest ............................. 17 List of Figures Figure 1. Paleontological Resources Rapid Assessment System map for the GMUG National Forest........................ 16 i Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests DRAFT Forest Plan Assessments: Paleontological Resources Chapter 1. Introduction Key Issues for Paleontological Resources on the GMUG A fundamental paleontological resources analysis for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG) has never been completed, such as the Comprehensive Evaluation Reports completed for other resources areas in 2006. Therefore, a base-level understanding of what paleontological localities/sites are known on the GMUG is necessary, as well as predictive potential maps to know the likelihood of encountering significant paleontological resources during ground disturbance. With the exception of one Special Interest Area (Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry on the Uncompahgre Plateau), there is no strategic direction for management of the paleontological resources on the GMUG. Summary Public Input The public is immensely interested in paleontological resources, and the Rocky Mountain Regional Office’s Paleontological Program has an extensive history of providing ‘Cultural Services’ (2012 planning rule, 1909.12, chapter 10, section 13.12 Ecosystem Services) to the country through volunteer stewardship projects. The only site the public (and perhaps many internally) are aware of is the “Dry Mesa Dinosaur Quarry.” Dry Mesa is a highly significant locality managed on the Forest, but Dry Mesa is not an active fossil quarry at present, and emphasis is now on management of extensive collections in partner museums (largely Brigham Young University). However, there are many more paleontological resources on the GMUG, many undiscovered, including vertebrate trackways, plant, and invertebrate fossils, as well as fossil mammals. There is substantial public input/interest in volunteering to provide responsible management of these resources. Recent inquiry (2015) from the public (Colorado Springs Mineralogical Society) about opportunities for “casual collecting” (fossils) and rock-hounding (rocks and minerals) on surrounding forests (Rio Grande and San Juan) has revealed inaccurate information on some Forest Service interpretive panels. These panels should be updated to reflect current Rules (36 CFR 291, April 17, 2015) under current Law (PRPA, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act, 2009), and the potential presence of such inconsistencies should be reviewed on GMUG interpretive information (panels, brochures, internet). Use of Best Available Science Numerous peer-reviewed geological/paleontological publications have been drawn upon to develop an initial, and quickly hewn, predictive modeling system for the occurrence of paleontological resources on the GMUG. Historical ‘soft policy’ referred to this system as the Fossil Yield Potential Classification (FYPC). New policy in the Paleontological Program, in progress, has revamped the FYPC, and in its place developed the Paleontological Resources Rapid Assessment System (PRRAS) for short (Appendix I, Figure 1, Table 1). This system is simpler to understand and implement than previous ‘soft policy.’ 1 USDA Forest Service Much of the base geologic information comes from the State Geologic Map of Colorado in Arc/Info Format (Tweto, 1979; Green, 1992). Geologic units (Group, Formation, Member, subunits) are treated as delineated on the Tweto (1979) map. PRRAS values (0, 1, 2) are assigned by the regional paleontologist based upon literature review, consultation with partner universities and museums, communication with researchers in various applicable geologic strata, and ground reconnaissance. The use of Best Available Science herein follows the Executive Memorandum issued by President Barak Obama (March 9, 2009) regarding scientific integrity. Chapter 2. Condition and Trends Current Condition of Known Paleontological Sites/Localities Historically, relatively little attention has been devoted to paleontological resources management
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Eocene Red Beds from NE Iraq: Constraints from Framework Petrography Muatasam M
    University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health - Papers Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health 2014 Provenance of Paleocene - Eocene red beds from NE Iraq: constraints from framework petrography Muatasam M. Hassan University of Wollongong, [email protected] Brian Jones University of Wollongong, [email protected] Solomon Buckman University of Wollongong, [email protected] Ali Ismael Al-Jubory Mosul University Fahad M. Al Gahtani University of Wollongong, [email protected] Publication Details Hassan, M. Mahmood., Jones, B. G., Buckman, S., Al-Jubory, A. & Al Gahtani, F. Mubarak. (2014). Provenance of Paleocene - Eocene red beds from NE Iraq: constraints from framework petrography. Geological Magazine, 151 (6), 1034-1050. Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Provenance of Paleocene - Eocene red beds from NE Iraq: constraints from framework petrography Abstract The er d-bed deposits in northern Iraq are situated in an active foreland basin adjacent to the Zagros Orogenic Belt, bound to the north by the Iranian plate thrust over the edge of the Arabian plate. The er d-bed successions are composed of alternating red and brown silty mudstones, purplish red calcareous siltstone, fine- ot coarse- grained pebbly sandstone and conglomerate. The er d beds in the current study can be divided into four parts showing a trend of upward coarsening with fine-grained deposits at the top. A detailed petrographic study was carried out on the sandstone units. The clastic rocks consist mainly of calcite cemented litharenite with rock fragments (volcanic, metamorphic and sedimentary), quartz and minor feldspar.
    [Show full text]
  • Blue River Valley Stratigraphic Chart
    Blue River Valley Hydrogeologic Geologic Period Phase Stratigraphic Unit Unit Modern Alluvium and outwash deposits Alluvial Aquifer Quaternary Glacial deposits Glacial deposits Glaciation Older stream and outwash terrace Local perched deposits aquifer Troublesome Formation Local aquifer Neogene Extension Volcanic rocks Volcanics Paleogene Transition Paleogene and Cretaceous intrusive Crystalline rocks bedrock Laramide Pierre Shale Smoky Hill Member Fort Hayes Limestone Pierre confining Niobrara Niobrara Formation Cretaceous unit Interior Carlile Shale Seaway Greenhorn Limestone Graneros Shale Benton Group Dakota Sandstone Dakota Aquifer Morrison Formation Morrison Aquifer Jurassic Mesozoic Entrada Sandstone Entrada Aquifer Sandstones Chinle confining Triassic Chinle Formation unit Permian Maroon Formation Ancestral Maroon-Minturn Rocky Aquifer Mountains Minturn Formation Pennsylvanian Mississippian No strata Devonian Chaffee Group Paleozoic Silurian Mississippian- Carbonates Cambrian Ordovician Manitou Formation carbonate aquifer Dotsero Formation and Cambrian Sawatch Sandstone Crystalline rocks of igneous and Crystalline Precambrian Precambrian metamorphic origin in mountainous bedrock region Table 12a-05-01. Blue River Valley stratigraphic chart. Blue River Valley Unit Thickness Hydrogeologic Geologic Period Phase Stratigraphic Unit Physical Characteristics Hydrologic Characteristics (ft) Unit Well to poorly-sorted, uncemented sands, silts and gravels along modern Modern Alluvium and outwash deposits >35 Alluvial Aquifer streams and
    [Show full text]
  • Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation, Colorado, U.S.A
    Journal of Sedimentary Research, 2008, v. 78, 0–0 Research Articles DOI: 10.2110/jsr.2008.052 DEPOSITS FROM WAVE-INFLUENCED TURBIDITY CURRENTS: PENNSYLVANIAN MINTURN FORMATION, COLORADO, U.S.A. 1 2 2 3 2 M. P. LAMB, P. M. MYROW, C. LUKENS, K. HOUCK, AND J. STRAUSS 1Department of Earth & Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, U.S.A. 2Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, U.S.A. 3Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Denver, Colorado, 80217-3363 U.S.A. e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: Turbidity currents generated nearshore have been suggested to be the source of some sandy marine event beds, but in most cases the evidence is circumstantial. Such flows must commonly travel through a field of oscillatory flow caused by wind-generated waves; little is known, however, about the interactions between waves and turbidity currents. We explore these interactions through detailed process-oriented sedimentological analysis of sandstone event beds from the Pennsylvanian Minturn Formation in north-central Colorado, U.S.A. The Minturn Formation exhibits a complex stratigraphic architecture of fan-delta deposits that developed in association with high topographic relief in a tectonically active setting. An , 20–35-m- thick, unconformity-bounded unit of prodelta deposits consists of dark green shale and turbidite-like sandstone beds with tool marks produced by abundant plant debris. Some of the sandstone event beds, most abundant at distal localities, contain reverse- to-normal grading and sequences of sedimentary structures that indicate deposition from waxing to waning flows. In contrast, proximal deposits, in some cases less than a kilometer away, contain abundant beds with evidence for deposition by wave- dominated combined flows, including large-scale hummocky cross-stratification (HCS).
    [Show full text]
  • Basin-Margin Depositional Environments of the Fort Union and Wasatch Formations in the Buffalo-Lake De Smet Area, Johnson County, Wyoming
    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Basin-Margin Depositional Environments of the Fort Union and Wasatch Formations in the Buffalo-Lake De Smet area, Johnson County, Wyoming By Stanley L. Obernyer Open-File Report 79-712 1979 Contents Page Abstract 1 Introduction 5 Methods of investigation 8 Previ ous work - 9 General geol ogy 10 Acknowledgments 16 Descriptive stratigraphy of the Fort Union and Wasatch Formations 18 Fort Union Formation- 18 Lower member 20 Conglomerate member 21 Wasatch Formation 30 Kingsbury Conglomerate Member 32 Moncrief Member 38 Coal-bearing strata Wasatch Formation 45 Conglomeratic sandstone sequence 46 The Lake De Smet coal bed 53 Very fine to medium-grained sandstone sequence 69 Fossil marker beds 78 Environments of Deposition 79 General 79 Alluvial fan environment 82 Braided stream environments 86 Alluvial valley environments 89 Tectonics and Sedimentation 92 Conglomerates and tectonics- 92 Coals and tectonics 98 Conclusions 108 References 111 11 ILLUSTRATIONS Plates Plate 1. Bedrock geologic map of the Buffalo-Lake De Smet area, Johnson County, Wyoming In pocket 2. Geologic cross sections along the Bighorn Mountain Front, Buffalo-Lake De Smet area, Johnson County, Wyoming In pocket FIGURES Page Figure 1. Location map sh wing the major structural units surround­ ing the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and Montana 7 2. Composite geologic section of the rocks exposed in in the Buffalo-Lake De Smet area- 11 3. Generalized geologic map of the Powder River Basin 12 4. Isopach map of the Fort Union and Wasatch Formations, Powder River Basin, from Curry (1971) 14 5. Generalized stratigraphic column of the conglomerate sequences 19 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Tetrapod Biostratigraphy and Biochronology of the Triassic–Jurassic Transition on the Southern Colorado Plateau, USA
    Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 244 (2007) 242–256 www.elsevier.com/locate/palaeo Tetrapod biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Triassic–Jurassic transition on the southern Colorado Plateau, USA Spencer G. Lucas a,⁎, Lawrence H. Tanner b a New Mexico Museum of Natural History, 1801 Mountain Rd. N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87104-1375, USA b Department of Biology, Le Moyne College, 1419 Salt Springs Road, Syracuse, NY 13214, USA Received 15 March 2006; accepted 20 June 2006 Abstract Nonmarine fluvial, eolian and lacustrine strata of the Chinle and Glen Canyon groups on the southern Colorado Plateau preserve tetrapod body fossils and footprints that are one of the world's most extensive tetrapod fossil records across the Triassic– Jurassic boundary. We organize these tetrapod fossils into five, time-successive biostratigraphic assemblages (in ascending order, Owl Rock, Rock Point, Dinosaur Canyon, Whitmore Point and Kayenta) that we assign to the (ascending order) Revueltian, Apachean, Wassonian and Dawan land-vertebrate faunachrons (LVF). In doing so, we redefine the Wassonian and the Dawan LVFs. The Apachean–Wassonian boundary approximates the Triassic–Jurassic boundary. This tetrapod biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Triassic–Jurassic transition on the southern Colorado Plateau confirms that crurotarsan extinction closely corresponds to the end of the Triassic, and that a dramatic increase in dinosaur diversity, abundance and body size preceded the end of the Triassic. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Triassic–Jurassic boundary; Colorado Plateau; Chinle Group; Glen Canyon Group; Tetrapod 1. Introduction 190 Ma. On the southern Colorado Plateau, the Triassic– Jurassic transition was a time of significant changes in the The Four Corners (common boundary of Utah, composition of the terrestrial vertebrate (tetrapod) fauna.
    [Show full text]
  • Revision of the Lower Part of the Tertiary System in the Central and \Vestern Uinta Basin, Utah______
    Revision of the Lower Part of the Tertiary System in the Central and \Vestern Uinta Basin, Utah_____ __________ GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1405G Revision of the Lower Part of the Tertiary System in the Central and \Vfestern Uinta Basin, Utah By THOMAS D. FOUCH CONTRIBUTIONS TO STRATIGRAPHY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1405-C Correlation of lower Tertiary stratigraphic units recently penetrated in northeastern Utah UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1976 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR THOMAS S. KLEPPE, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Fouch, Thomas D. Revision of the lower part of the Tertiary system in the central and western Uinta Basin, Utah. (Contributions to stratigraphy) (Geological Survey Bulletin 1405-C) Bibliography: p. Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.3:1405-C 1. Geology, Stratigraphic Tertiary. 2. Geology, Stratigraphic Nomenclature Utah Uinta Basin. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: United States Geological Survey Bulletin 1405-C. QE75.B9 No. 1405-C [QE691] 557.3'08s [ 551.7'8'0979221] 75-619374 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D. C. 20402 Stock Number 024-001-02770-4 CONTENTS Page Abstract....................................................................................................................... Cl Introduction................................................................................................................ 1 North Horn Formation .............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Triassic Stratigraphy of the Southeastern Colorado Plateau, West-Central New Mexico Spencer G
    New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: https://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/72 Triassic stratigraphy of the southeastern Colorado Plateau, west-central New Mexico Spencer G. Lucas, 2021, pp. 229-240 in: Geology of the Mount Taylor area, Frey, Bonnie A.; Kelley, Shari A.; Zeigler, Kate E.; McLemore, Virginia T.; Goff, Fraser; Ulmer-Scholle, Dana S., New Mexico Geological Society 72nd Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 310 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 2021 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed geoscience papers. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic reference for anyone working in or around New Mexico. Free Downloads NMGS has decided to make peer-reviewed papers from our Fall Field Conference guidebooks available for free download. This is in keeping with our mission of promoting interest, research, and cooperation regarding geology in New Mexico. However, guidebook sales represent a significant proportion of our operating budget. Therefore, only research papers are available for download. Road logs, mini-papers, Color Plates, maps, stratigraphic charts, and other selected content are available only in the printed guidebooks. Copyright Information Publications of the New Mexico Geological Society, printed and electronic, are protected by the copyright laws of the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • The White Rim ­— East to West 4 Days/3 Nights
    The White Rim — East to West 4 days/3 nights DAY 1 Needles districts of Canyonlands and beyond. We will shuttle from our shop in Moab to the TOTAL MILEAGE: 27 miles Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park where we begin our ride with a DAY 3 dramatic descent of the Shafer Trail switchbacks. This 1,200 foot downhill lasts for three miles and We begin the day with a fun but technical brings us down to the White Rim sandstone layer. descent off the Hogback down to the White Points of interest include: the Colorado River Rim layer. Points of interest include Overlook, Musselman Arch, Little Bridge Canyon Candlestick Tower and Holeman Canyon, where we (prime Bighorn Sheep habitat) and Lathrop Canyon. may take a short hike. Hiking into this canyon is very The route continues with a downhill trend and then tricky and requires some interesting moves. The rolls gently to camp. After Lathrop Canyon, we will hanging gardens, pools of water and narrow canyon ride to our camp at Airport Tower and enjoy views of walls make this hike one of our favorites on the White the La Sal and Abajo mountains. Rim. We will then continue along in a downhill mode along the rim of the sheer canyon to Potato Bottom TOTAL MILEAGE: 18 miles where the White Rim sandstone layer disappears into the Green River. We’ll camp here under the DAY 2 cottonwoods on the bank of the Green River. Today, as we approach Monument Basin, we TOTAL MILEAGE: 21 miles will continue riding around the beautifully eroded canyons of the Colorado Plateau.
    [Show full text]
  • Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park
    «u GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1327 JUL 1 7 1990 Dacus Library Wmthrop College Documents Department -T7 LOOKING NORTH FROM EAST WALL OF DEVILS LANE, just south of the Silver Stairs. Needles are Cedar Mesa Sandstone. Junction Butte and Grand View Point lie across Colorado River in background. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1327 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY V. E. McKelvey, Director Library of Congress catalog-card No. 74-600043 Reprinted 1977 and 1990 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1974 For sale by the Books and Open-File Reports Section, U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, CO 80225 . Contents Page A new park is born 1 Major Powell's river expeditions 4 Early history 9 Prehistoric people 9 Late arrivals 14 Geographic setting 17 Rocks and landforms 20 How to see the park 26 The high mesas 27 Island in the Sky 27 Dead Horse Point State Park 30 North entrance 34 Shafer and White Rim Trails 34 Grand View Point 36 Green River Overlook 43 Upheaval Dome 43 Hatch Point 46 Needles Overlook 47 Canyonlands Overlook 48 U-3 Loop 49 Anticline Overlook 50 Orange Cliffs 54 The benchlands 5g The Maze and Land of Standing Rocks 58 The Needles district 60 Salt, Davis, and Lavender Canyons _ 64 The Needles and The Grabens 73 Canyons of the Green and Colorado Rivers 85 Entrenched and cutoff meanders 86 Green River 87 Colorado River _ 96 Summary of geologic history H2 Additional reading H7 Acknowledgments H8 Selected references n% Index 123 VII Illustrations Page Frontispiece .
    [Show full text]
  • The Geologic Story of Colorado's Sangre De Cristo Range
    The Geologic Story of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Range Circular 1349 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey Cover shows a landscape carved by glaciers. Front cover, Crestone Peak on left and the three summits of Kit Carson Mountain on right. Back cover, Humboldt Peak on left and Crestone Needle on right. Photograph by the author looking south from Mt. Adams. The Geologic Story of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Range By David A. Lindsey A description of the rocks and landscapes of the Sangre de Cristo Range and the forces that formed them. Circular 1349 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2010 This and other USGS information products are available at http://store.usgs.gov/ U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 To learn about the USGS and its information products visit http://www.usgs.gov/ 1-888-ASK-USGS Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. Suggested citation: Lindsey, D.A., 2010, The geologic story of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Range: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1349, 14 p. iii Contents The Oldest Rocks ...........................................................................................................................................1
    [Show full text]
  • Carbon and Strontium Isotope Stratigraphy of the Permian from Nevada and China: Implications from an Icehouse to Greenhouse Transition
    Carbon and strontium isotope stratigraphy of the Permian from Nevada and China: Implications from an icehouse to greenhouse transition Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Kate E. Tierney, M.S. Graduate Program in the School of Earth Sciences The Ohio State University 2010 Dissertation Committee: Matthew R. Saltzman, Advisor William I. Ausich Loren Babcock Stig M. Bergström Ola Ahlqvist Copyright by Kate Elizabeth Tierney 2010 Abstract The Permian is one of the most important intervals of earth history to help us understand the way our climate system works. It is an analog to modern climate because during this interval climate transitioned from an icehouse state (when glaciers existed extending to middle latitudes), to a greenhouse state (when there were no glaciers). This climatic amelioration occurred under conditions very similar to those that exist in modern times, including atmospheric CO2 levels and the presence of plants thriving in the terrestrial system. This analog to the modern system allows us to investigate the mechanisms that cause global warming. Scientist have learned that the distribution of carbon between the oceans, atmosphere and lithosphere plays a large role in determining climate and changes in this distribution can be studied by chemical proxies preserved in the rock record. There are two main ways to change the distribution of carbon between these reservoirs. Organic carbon can be buried or silicate minerals in the terrestrial realm can be weathered. These two mechanisms account for the long term changes in carbon concentrations in the atmosphere, particularly important to climate.
    [Show full text]
  • The Need for Sedimentary Geology in Paleontology
    The Sedimentary Record The Habitat of Primitive Vertebrates: The Need for Sedimentary Geology in Paleontology Steven M. Holland Department of Geology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2501 Jessica Allen Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0111 ABSTRACT That these were fish fossils was immediately controversial, with paleontological giants E.D. Cope and E.W. Claypole voicing The habitat in which early fish originated and diversified has doubts. long been controversial, with arguments spanning everything The controversy over habitat soon followed. By 1935, a fresh- from marine to fresh-water. A recent sequence stratigraphic water or possibly estuarine environment for early fish was generally analysis of the Ordovician Harding Formation of central preferred, but essentially in disregard for the sedimentology of the Colorado demonstrates that the primitive fish first described by Harding (Romer and Grove, 1935). Devonian fish were abundant Charles Walcott did indeed live in a shallow marine in fresh-water strata and the lack of fish in demonstrably marine environment, as he argued.This study underscores the need for Ordovician strata supported a fresh-water origin. The abrasion of analyses of the depositional environment and sequence dermal plates in the Harding was considered proof that the fish architecture of fossiliferous deposits to guide paleobiological and were transported from a fresh-water habitat to their burial in a biostratigraphic inferences. littoral environment. The fresh-water interpretation quickly led to paleobiological inference, as armored heads were thought to be a defense against eurypterids living in fresh-water habitats. Paleobiological inference also drove the fresh-water interpretation, INTRODUCTION with biologists arguing that the physiology of kidneys necessitated a For many years, the habitat of primitive vertebrates has been fresh-water origin for fish.
    [Show full text]