Posted on 05/10/2010 4:23:15 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
About 12 million years ago, a volcano in southwest Idaho spread a blanket of ash over a very large area. One or two feet of this powdered glass covered the flat savannah-like grasslands of northeastern Nebraska.
Most of the animals which lived here survived the actual ashfall, but as they continued to graze on the ash covered grasses, their lungs began to fill up with the abrasive powder. Soon their lungs became severely damaged and they began to die.
The smaller animals died first (smaller lung capacities) and finally, after perhaps three to five weeks, the last of the rhinos perished.Their bodies were quickly covered by the blowing and drifting ash.
Undisturbed except by an occasional scavenging meat-eater, the skeletons of these animals are preserved in their death positions, complete with evidence of their last meals in their mouths and stomachs and their last steps preserved in the sandstone below.
Ashfall wildlife and the impending cloud of volcanic ash. The Ashfall skeletons are found in an ancient waterhole as depicted here. Fossil evidence at the site reveals complete, articulated skeletons of large mammals, birds, and turtles, as well as seeds of grasses and trees.
(Excerpt) Read more at ashfall.unl.edu ...
What can I say? Perhaps, “ENCORE!!!”
;o])
Meant for you, Nully....I was overwhelmed by the memories...
What happens in Vegas...
We’ve visited Ashfall several times and have always found it fascinating. It’s rare that you can get so close to the exhibits being unearthed. Thank you Dr. Voorhies and your collegues.
Lew, in Kansas
Ah, Ash. I remember him. I used to IM him back on the AOL days. Actually a nice guy, but totally out of whack, politically. I wonder what happened to him?
Were we in Vegas? *sigh* It felt more like Paradise.
the last of the rhinos perished...
I thought this might have been a dublicate of this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2510722/posts
‘I was just lying there when some ash fell on top of me,” she said. ‘
What was the name of the guy who religiously issued the ash alerts?. Something with an "M" I think?
Morgan? Jim Thompson?
Don Morgan!! (I checked the freeper lexicon)
I should have thought to look there in the first place
If the whole world wound up buried in volcanic ash, ending our civilization, thousands of years from now archaeologists would find concealed caches of chocolate. ;’)
;’)
is a saying Bill Bennett no longer believes.
Now there is performance art I can get behind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.