Ancient fossil forest found by accident
Treasure trove of extinct species discovered in old coal mine.
Geologists have found the remains of a huge underground rainforest hidden in a coal mine in Illinois. The fossil forest, buried by an earthquake 300 million years ago, contains giant versions of several plant types alive today.
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Comments
Hi, This is amazing about the ancient forest just 45 minutes north of where I live. Could more photos be posted of the ancient plants? Will there be field trips to the mine from University Geology Departments? Thanks. Bill Cain
Posted by: Bill Cain | April 23, 2007 07:58 PM
what is the significant meaning of 300 million years old in trees or forest world??
Posted by: ragil | April 24, 2007 04:06 AM
Considering the vast amounts of Carbon stored in these forests and their fossilization into coal, I wonder what the temperature of Earth was before the Carbon was trapped by plant life? Considering that we are releasing all this ancient Carbon back into the atmosphere in our very own time, the question is not irrelevant.
Is there someone out there who could venture a guess?
I'd like to hear the answer, at r_da@comcast.net .
Posted by: H. Shamir | April 24, 2007 06:27 PM
this is so stupid, such an extroidinary discovery, but with no plans for preservation?!?!?!? which idiot made that decision!!, ...seems like the most stupid people get the say of what goes on...kinda reminds one about Iraq. I say we demand a protected environment and keep that place the way it is. this could contribute to all kinds of scientific study, and religious/scientific theories for that matter, read about the great flood and this will turn on a few lights. I was almost speechless with anger when i read that this will be left to collapse on its own and no fossils saved, but obviously i have gathhered my thoughts and bantered the idiots who have made this astronomical mistake.
Posted by: Nathan | April 25, 2007 05:23 AM