Those stalactites/stalagmites in that cave full of water(new cover picture) means that this cave was once above water, since those formations can be created only in an air environment.
I have read that the oceans were once over 300 feet lower than they are today.
A sobering thought, since all that missing water had to be somewhere... namely on land as ice.
Lived in Santa Fe for 31 years, wish I'd never left.
Those are very old shark teeth. Lots of New Mexico was once part of a great inland sea many millions of years ago.
Some say the land has risen due to tectonic plate movement, others say the world was much warmer - no ice caps - and the sea level was several hundred feet higher.
Since even the SE corner of NM at the teeny village of Jal is over three thousand feet (3,071 ft.) above present sea level, I prefer the plate movement theory.
But who really knows? None of us were there to see.
Off topic:
ReplyDeleteThose stalactites/stalagmites in that cave full of water(new cover picture) means that this cave was once above water, since those formations can be created only in an air environment.
I have read that the oceans were once over 300 feet lower than they are today.
A sobering thought, since all that missing water had to be somewhere... namely on land as ice.
Bob - Wow, I didn't think of that, be careful using your brain, makes you stand out like a sore thumb.
ReplyDeleteOk, I'll buy that but it makes me wonder about something.
When I lived in New Mexico, we use to fink shark teeth on mesas all the time.
So obviously it was underwater at some point, but no longer is.
What's up with that?
http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/fossils/96364-new-mexico-sharks-teeth.html
ReplyDeleteLived in Santa Fe for 31 years, wish I'd never left.
ReplyDeleteThose are very old shark teeth. Lots of New Mexico was once part of a great inland sea many millions of years ago.
Some say the land has risen due to tectonic plate movement, others say the world was much warmer - no ice caps - and the sea level was several hundred feet higher.
Since even the SE corner of NM at the teeny village of Jal is over three thousand feet (3,071 ft.) above present sea level, I prefer the plate movement theory.
But who really knows? None of us were there to see.