Theory of continental drift (2)

Stan in front of the Ordovician rocks of Bell Island

Its hard to believe that the solid rocks beneath our feet , under the right pressure and temperature, become plastic enough to flow. But that's a fact, at least its pretty much universally accepted by geologists today.

I find it interesting to consider where the rocks we paddle along were formed millions of years ago. The rocks of Bell Island are sandstones and shales that are interbedded which indicates the water fluctuated between shallow (sandstone deposited) and deeper (shale deposited). The sandstones show ripple marks and I've split them apart to reveal worm borrows preserved in the rocks. I find it a particularly moving experience to be able to see where worms burrowed 450 million years ago. E.R. Rose in his geological memoir even reports evidence of "rain-drop impressions".

All of this continental drift would have been oblivious to the grains of sand and worms just like it is to us today. But, I like to keep in mind that the world underneath my feet is moving. The earth is dynamic and there are lots of things in it to be enjoyed, whether in a kayak or not.

Tony :-)

Paleo maps by C. R. Scotese, PALEOMAP project at www.scotese.com

This is where "Avalonia" has drifted to in about the 60 million years since the Cambrian. This would be the approximate location where we were when the Ordovician rocks of Bell Island were deposited.

This is where "Avalonia" was when the Cambrian rocks of the Avalon Peninsula were deposited over 500 million years ago. This is where we were on my last entry on the topic in March.