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Spectacular Fossil Forests Found In US Coalmine

Smivs passes along a report up on the BBC about the fossil forests found in coal mines in Illinois. "The [US-UK] group reported one discovery last year, but has since identified a further five examples. The ancient vegetation — now turned to rock — is visible in the ceilings of mines covering thousands of hectares. These were among the first forests to evolve on the planet, [according to] Dr. Howard Falcon-Lang... 'These are the largest fossil forests found anywhere in the world at any point in geological time. It is quite extraordinary to find a fossil landscape preserved over such a vast area; and we are talking about an area the size of [the British city of] Bristol.' The forests grew just a few million years apart some 300 million years ago; and are now stacked one on top of another."

4 of 197 comments (clear)

  1. Great! by kestasjk · · Score: 5, Funny

    Let's burn it!

    --
    // MD_Update(&m,buf,j);
  2. Re:why looking at the ceiling? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    global warming comment

  3. Re:Note on Units by the_B0fh · · Score: 5, Funny

    It depends on how pregnant that Bristol is.

    OK, bad bad taste. My coat's the one full of shot.

  4. Re:Note on Units by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Answer: 0.000

    Simplifying Assumption: I drank it all.