#calcareous sedimentary rocks

[colitcomedia]

From historic riches to future discoveries: The Warroo Copper-Gold Project

In the realm of mineral exploration, few opportunities are as enticing as those presented by the Silverwood Copper-Gold Project. Located just 15 kilometers south of Warwick in Queensland, this project is a significant asset of QMines. Encompassing a vast 234 square kilometers of exploration area, the Silverwood Project boasts immense potential for Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) and Mississippi Valley-type deposits, hosting substantial quantities of zinc, copper, gold, silver, and lead.

Situated within the Calliope Island Arc, the Silverwood Project has gained recognition for its remarkable gold deposits, including the famed Mount Morgan gold mine, which has yielded over 8 million ounces of gold and 400,000 tonnes of copper. Benefitting from a complex geological structure, the Silverwood region provides a fertile ground for further exploration and potential discoveries.

Among the key highlights of the Silverwood Base Metals Project is its previous exploration by the esteemed Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ). As a result, the project boasts an initial exploration target of 0.8-1.0 million tonnes at impressive grades of 3.2-3.7% zinc, 0.3-0.5% copper, 15-25 grams per tonne silver, and 0.3-0.5% lead. Promisingly, drill results have revealed the presence of copper grades reaching as high as 3%.

Building on the significant base metal mineralization discovered at Grieves Quarry, QMines is directing its exploration initiatives towards identifying potential gold mineralization in calcareous or carbonate sedimentary rocks while continuing to target base metals at the Silverwood project.

Andrew Sparke, a renowned industry expert, has expressed his optimism regarding the Silverwood Copper-Gold Project. He believes that the region's geological complexity and the previous exploration efforts conducted by the Geological Survey of Queensland have laid a strong foundation for further exploration and potential discoveries. Sparke further emphasizes that the presence of high-grade copper and the project's proximity to significant gold deposits bode well for future prospects.

In addition to the Silverwood Project, Sparke also highlights the Warroo Copper-Gold Project, situated 50 kilometers west of Stanthorpe. Spanning an expansive 216 square kilometers, this project encompasses the historical Warroo copper-gold mine, which has yielded 13,982 ounces of gold, 21 tonnes of copper, and 901 ounces of silver from a depth of 40 meters between 1909 and 1992.

Denaro's 1992 assessment of the Warroo mine identified granitoid-related mesothermal vein deposits with exceptional gold grades, making them a primary target for mineral exploration. The Warroo Project is home to eight high-grade small-scale historic mines and deposits, underscoring its rich potential.

Of particular significance is the best drill hole result obtained from the Warroo Project, which revealed an impressive 8 meters at 13.46 grams per tonne gold. This remarkable finding further highlights the substantial exploration potential of the project.

QMines, in its pursuit of unlocking the full potential of the Warroo Project, plans to undertake a comprehensive data compilation exercise. This exercise aims to develop a digital summary map that will facilitate the evaluation of anomalous areas identified by past explorers, thereby aiding further exploration efforts. The company's proposed drilling of the primary sulphide zone in and around the Warroo mine presents numerous gold and copper targets for follow-up exploration.

With Andrew Sparke and QMines at the helm, the Silverwood Copper-Gold Project and the Warroo Copper-Gold Project are poised to make significant strides in uncovering substantial mineral reserves. The combination of extensive geological potential, past exploration efforts, and the dedication of industry experts herald a promising future for these projects, leaving investors and stakeholders eagerly awaiting the next groundbreaking discoveries.

[geologyin-blog]

Travertine is a calcareous sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). It forms around freshwater springs, particularly hot springs, through the precipitation of dissolved minerals from the water. Read more here:

[parafrazerofhistory]

The God of the Corycian Cave

“Nothing yet found at Olba [in Anatolia, modern-day Republic of Türkiye] throws light on the nature of the god who was worshipped there under the Greek name of Zeus. But at two places near the coast, distant only some fourteen or fifteen miles from Olba, a deity also called Zeus by the Greeks was revered in natural surroundings of a remarkable kind, which must have stood in close relation with the worship, and are therefore fitted to illustrate it. In both places the features of the landscape are of the same general cast, and at one of them the god was definitely identified with the Zeus of Olba. The country here consists of a tableland of calcareous rock rent at intervals by those great chasms which are characteristic of a limestone formation. Similar fissures, with the accompaniment of streams or rivers which pour into them and vanish under ground, are frequent in Greece, and may be observed in our own country [i.e., England] near Ingleborough [a mountain] in Yorkshire. Fossil bones of extinct animals are often found embedded in the stalagmite or breccia [a type of sedimentary rock] of limestone caves. For example, the famous Kent's Hole near Torquay [in England] contained bones of the mammoth, rhinoceros, lion, hyaena, and bear; and red osseous breccias, charged with the bones of quadrupeds which have long disappeared from Europe, are common in almost all the countries bordering on the Mediterranean. Western Cilicia is richer in Miocene deposits than any other part of Anatolia, and the limestone gorges of the coast near Olba are crowded with fossil oysters, corals, and other shells. Here, too, within the space of five miles the limestone plateau is rent by three great chasms, which Greek religion associated with Zeus and Typhon. One of these fissures is the celebrated Corycian cave.

Corycian Cave, exterior view.

(Source: Zde, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“To visit this spot, invested with the double charm of natural beauty and legendary renown, you start from the dead Cilician city of Corycus on the sea, with its ruined walls, towers, and churches, its rock-hewn houses and cisterns, its shattered mole [harbor], its island-fortress, still imposing in decay. Viewed from the sea, this part of the Cilician coast, with its long succession of white ruins, relieved by the dark wooded hills behind, presents an appearance of populousness and splendour. But a nearer approach reveals the nakedness and desolation of the once prosperous land. Following the shore westward from Corycus for about an hour you come to a pretty cove enclosed by wooded heights, where a spring of pure cold water bubbles up close to the sea, giving to the spot its name of Tatlu-su, or the Sweet Water. From this bay a steep ascent of about a mile along an ancient paved road leads inland to a plateau. Here, threading your way through a labyrinth or petrified sea of jagged calcareous rocks, you suddenly find yourself on the brink of a vast chasm which yawns at your feet. This is the Corycian cave. In reality it is not a cave but an immense hollow or trough in the plateau, of oval shape and perhaps half a mile in circumference. The cliffs which enclose it vary from one hundred to over two hundred feet in depth. Its uneven bottom slopes throughout its whole length from north to south, and is covered by a thick jungle of trees and shrubs—myrtles, pomegranates, carobs, and many more, kept always fresh and green by rivulets, underground water, and the shadow of the great cliffs. A single narrow path leads down into its depths. The way is long and rough, but the deeper you descend the denser grows the vegetation, and it is under the dappled shade of whispering leaves and with the purling of brooks in your ears that you at last reach the bottom. The saffron which of old grew here among the bushes is no longer to be found, though it still flourishes in the surrounding district. This luxuriant bottom, with its rich verdure, its refreshing moisture, its grateful shade, is called Paradise by the wandering herdsmen. They tether their camels and pasture their goats in it and come hither in the late summer to gather the ripe pomegranates. At the southern and deepest end of this great cliff-encircled hollow you come to the cavern proper. The ruins of a Byzantine church, which replaced a heathen temple, partly block the entrance. Inwards the cave descends with a gentle slope into the bowels of the earth. The old path paved with polygonal masonry still runs through it, but soon disappears under sand. At about two hundred feet from its mouth the cave comes to an end, and a tremendous roar of subterranean water is heard. By crawling on all fours you may reach a small pool arched by a dripping stalactite-hung roof, but the stream which makes the deafening din is invisible. It was otherwise in antiquity. A river of clear water burst from the rock, but only to vanish again into a chasm. Such changes in the course of streams are common in countries subject to earthquakes and to the disruption caused by volcanic agency. The ancients believed that this mysterious cavern was haunted ground. In the rumble and roar of the waters they seemed to hear the clash of cymbals touched by hands divine.

The island-fortress and mole at Korykos (Corycus).

(Source: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“If now, quitting the cavern, we return by the same path to the summit of the cliffs, we shall find on the plateau the ruins of a town and of a temple at the western edge of the great Corycian chasm. The wall of the holy precinct was built within a few feet of the precipices, and the sanctuary must have stood right over the actual cave and its subterranean waters. In later times the temple was converted into a Christian church. By pulling down a portion of the sacred edifice Mr. [James Theodore] Bent had the good fortune to discover a Greek inscription containing a long list of names, probably those of the priests who superintended the worship. One name which meets us frequently in the list is Zas, and it is tempting to regard this as merely a dialectical form of Zeus. If that were so, the priests who bore the name might be supposed to personate the god. But many strange and barbarous-looking names, evidently foreign, occur in the list, and Zas may be one of them. However, it is certain that Zeus was worshipped at the Corycian cave; for about half a mile from it, on the summit of a hill, are the ruins of a larger temple, which an inscription proves to have been dedicated to Corycian Zeus.

Ruins of a basilica at Korykos.

(Source: Ingeborg Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“But Zeus, or whatever native deity masqueraded under his name, did not reign alone in the deep dell. A more dreadful being haunted a still more awful abyss which opens in the ground only a hundred yards to the east of the great Corycian chasm. It is a circular cauldron, about a quarter of a mile in circumference, resembling the Corycian chasm in its general character, but smaller, deeper, and far more terrific in appearance. Its sides overhang and stalactites droop from them. There is no way down into it. The only mode of reaching the bottom, which is covered with vegetation, would be to be lowered at the end of a long rope. The nomads call this chasm Purgatory, to distinguish it from the other which they name Paradise. They say that there is a subterranean passage between the two, and that the smoke of a fire kindled in the Corycian cave may be seen curling out of the other. The one ancient writer who expressly mentions this second and more grisly cavern is Mela, who says that it was the lair of the giant Typhon, and that no animal let down into it could live. Aeschylus puts into the mouth of Prometheus an account of ‘the earth-born Typhon, dweller in Cilician caves, dread monster, hundred-headed,’ who in his pride rose up against the gods, hissing destruction from his dreadful jaws, while from his Gorgon eyes the lightning flashed. But him a flaming levin bolt, crashing from heaven, smote to the very heart, and now he lies, shrivelled and scorched, under the weight of Etna by the narrow sea. Yet one day he will belch a fiery hail, a boiling angry flood, rivers of flame, to devastate the fat Sicilian fields. This poetical description of the monster, confirmed by a similar passage of Pindar, clearly proves that Typhon was conceived as a personification of those active volcanoes which spout fire and smoke to heaven as if they would assail the celestial gods. The Corycian caverns are not volcanic, but the ancients apparently regarded them as such, else they would hardly have made them the den of Typhon.

An engraving of Typhon, from the first volume of Athanasius Kircher's Oedipus Aegyptiacus (1652-54).

(Source: Athanasius Kircher, Public Domain, via Wikimedia)

“According to one legend Typhon was a monster, half man and half brute, begotten in Cilicia by Tartarus upon the goddess Earth. The upper part of him was human, but from the loins downward he was an enormous snake. In the battle of the gods and giants, which was fought out in Egypt, Typhon hugged Zeus in his snaky coils, wrested from him his crooked sword, and with the blade cut the sinews of the god's hands and feet. Then taking him on his back he conveyed the mutilated deity across the sea to Cilicia, and deposited him in the Corycian cave. Here, too, he hid the severed sinews, wrapt in a bear's skin. But Hermes and Aegipan contrived to steal the missing thews and restore them to their divine owner. Thus made whole and strong again, Zeus pelted his beaten adversary with thunderbolts, drove him from place to place, and at last overwhelmed him under Mount Etna. And the spots where the hissing bolts fell are still marked by jets of flame….

A photograph of Mount Ætna in Sicily, by Immanuel Friedlaender (1910).

(Source: Immanuel Friedlaender, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

“About five miles to the north-east of the Corycian impassable rocks, is another and very similar chasm. It may be reached in about an hour and a quarter from the sea by an ancient paved road, which ascends at first very steeply and then gently through bush-clad and wooded hills. Thus you come to a stretch of level ground covered with the well-preserved ruins of an ancient town. Remains of fortresses constructed of polygonal masonry, stately churches, and many houses, together with numerous tombs and reliefs, finely chiselled in the calcareous limestone of the neighbourhood, bear witness to the extent and importance of the place. Yet it is mentioned by no ancient writer. Inscriptions prove that its name was Kanyteldeis or Kanytelideis, which still survives in the modern form of Kanidiwan [Kanlıdivane, in the Republic of Türkiye]. The great chasm opens in the very heart of the city. So crowded are the ruins that you do not perceive the abyss till you are within a few yards of it. It is almost a complete circle, about a quarter of a mile wide, three-quarters of a mile in circumference, and uniformly two hundred feet or more in depth. The cliffs go sheer down and remind the traveller of the great quarries at Syracuse [in Sicily]. But like the Corycian caves, the larger of which it closely resembles, the huge fissure is natural; and its bottom, like theirs, is overgrown with trees and vegetation. Two ways led down into it in antiquity, both cut through the rock. One of them was a tunnel, which is now obstructed; the other is still open. Remains of columns and hewn stones in the bottom of the chasm seem to show that a temple once stood there. But there is no cave at the foot of the cliffs, and no stream flows in the deep hollow or can be heard to rumble underground. A ruined tower of polygonal masonry, which stands on the southern edge of the chasm, bears a Greek inscription stating that it was dedicated to Olbian Zeus by the priest Teucer, son of Tarkuaris. The letters are beautifully cut in the style of the third century before Christ. We may infer that at the time of the dedication the town belonged to the priestly kings of Olba, and that the great chasm was sacred to Olbian Zeus.

The chasm at the center of the ruins of the Greek city once known as Kanyteldeis.

(Source: Elelicht, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“What, then, was the character of the god who was worshipped under the name of Zeus at these two great natural chasms? The depth of the fissures, opening suddenly and as it were without warning in the midst of a plateau, was well fitted to impress and awe the spectator; and the sight of the rank evergreen vegetation at their bottom, fed by rivulets or underground water, must have presented a striking contrast to the grey, barren, rocky wilderness of the surrounding tableland. Such a spot must have seemed to simple folk a paradise, a garden of God, the abode of higher powers who caused the wilderness to blossom, if not with roses, at least with myrtles and pomegranates for man, and with grass and underwood for his flocks.… In rainless countries the sky-god is deprived of one of the principal functions which he discharges in cool cloudy climates like that of Europe. He has, in fact, little or nothing to do with the water-supply, and has therefore small excuse for levying a water-rate on his worshippers. Not, indeed, that Cilicia is rainless; but in countries bordering on the Mediterranean the drought is almost unbroken through the long months of summer. Vegetation then withers: the face of nature is scorched and brown: most of the rivers dry up and only their white stony beds, hot to the foot and dazzling to the eye, remain to tell where they flowed. It is at such seasons that a green hollow, a shady rock, a murmuring stream, are welcomed by the wanderer in the South with a joy and wonder which the untravelled Northerner can hardly imagine. Never do the broad slow rivers of England, with their winding reaches, their grassy banks, their grey willows mirrored with the soft English sky in the placid stream, appear so beautiful as when the traveller views them for the first time after leaving behind him the aridity, the heat, the blinding glare of the white southern landscape, set in seas and skies of caerulean blue.

The ruins of Kanyteldeis, now known as Kanlıdivane.

(Source: Dosseman, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“We may take it, then, as probable that the god of the Corycian and Olbian caverns was worshipped as a source of fertility. In antiquity, when the river, which now roars underground, still burst from the rock in the Corycian cave, the scene must have resembled Ibreez [at Cappadocia in Anatolia], where the god of the corn and the vine was adored at the source of the stream; and we may compare the vale of Adonis in the Lebanon, where the divinity who gave his name to the river was revered at its foaming cascades. The three landscapes had in common the elements of luxuriant vegetation and copious streams leaping full-born from the rock. We shall hardly err in supposing that these features shaped the conception of the deities who were supposed to haunt the favoured spots. At the Corycian cave the existence of a second chasm, of a frowning and awful aspect, might well suggest the presence of an evil being who lurked in it and sought to undo the beneficent work of the good god. Thus we should have a fable of a conflict between the two, a battle of Zeus and Typhon.

Temple of Zeus in Olba, in the Republic of Türkiye.

(Source: HALUK COMERTEL, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

“On the whole we conclude that the Olbian Zeus, worshipped at one of these great limestone chasms, and clearly identical in nature with the Corycian Zeus, was also identical with the Baal of Tarsus, the god of the corn and the vine, who in his turn can hardly be separated from the god of Ibreez. If my conjecture is right the native name of the Olbian Zeus was Tark or Trok, and the priestly Teucers of Olba represented him in their own persons. On that hypothesis the Olbian priests who bore the name of Ajax embodied another native deity of unknown name, perhaps the father or the son of Tark. A comparison of the coin-types of Tarsus with the Hittite monuments of Ibreez and Boghaz-Keui led us to the conclusion that the people of Tarsus worshipped at least two distinct gods, a father and a son, the father-god being known to the Semites as Baal and to the Greeks as Zeus, while the son was called Sandan by the natives, but Hercules by the Greeks. We may surmise that at Olba the names of Teucer and Ajax designated two gods who corresponded in type to the two gods of Tarsus; and if the lesser figure at Ibreez, who appears in an attitude of adoration before the deity of the corn [i.e., of the grain] and the vine, could be interpreted as the divine Son in presence of the divine Father, we should have in all three places the same pair of deities, represented probably in the flesh by successive generations of priestly kings. But the evidence is far too slender to justify us in advancing this hypothesis as anything more than a bare conjecture.”

—J. G. Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, part 1 (The Golden Bough, vol. V, 1914, pp. 152-161)

A sarcophagus in the Temple of Zeus Olbius.

(Source: Cobija, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)

[uk-fossils]

Nummulites laengryus Fossil - Bracklesham Beds, Eocene - Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK - Genuine with COA

Nummulites laengryus Fossil - Bracklesham Beds, Eocene - Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK

This is a genuine fossil specimen of Nummulites laengryus, a species of Foraminifera, sourced from the Bracklesham Beds, Eocene period, Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK. Nummulites are single-celled marine organisms with distinctive, disk-shaped calcareous shells, which accumulated over millions of years to form vast limestone deposits. These fascinating microfossils played a crucial role in shaping ancient marine ecosystems and are of significant scientific interest.

Geological Information:

Species: Nummulites laengryus

Fossil Type: Foraminifera (Single-celled Marine Protist)

Age: Eocene (~56 to 33.9 million years ago)

Formation: Bracklesham Beds

Location: Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK

Preservation: Fossilized calcite shells embedded in sedimentary rock

About Nummulites: Nummulites are a type of foraminifera, microscopic marine protozoans that produce multi-chambered shells. These organisms thrived in warm, shallow seas and their abundant remains helped form limestone deposits, particularly in regions like the Bracklesham Beds and the famous Eocene Nummulitic Limestone of the Mediterranean.

Fossils of Nummulites provide valuable insights into paleoclimates, ancient marine ecosystems, and biostratigraphy, helping geologists date sedimentary rock layers.

Key Features:

100% genuine fossil specimen of Nummulites laengryus

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Well-preserved fossil with visible spiral structure and calcite shell details

Sourced from the Bracklesham Beds, Eocene, a renowned fossiliferous site in the UK

A fascinating piece of geological and paleontological history

Ideal for collectors, geologists, paleontologists, and educators

Handling & Care:

Fragile Specimen: Handle with care to preserve its delicate structure.

Keep Dry: Store in a dry environment to prevent deterioration.

Cleaning Tip: Use a soft brush to remove any dust or debris. Avoid harsh chemicals or moisture exposure.

Additional Information:

The photos show the actual specimen you will receive, ensuring transparency and authenticity.

Scale cube = 1cm; for full sizing, please refer to the images provided.

Expertly packed for safe and secure shipping.

This Nummulites laengryus Fossil is a rare and scientifically significant specimen, perfect for anyone passionate about fossils, ancient marine life, or natural history. Buy with confidence, knowing you are receiving a 100% authentic fossil, backed by our Certificate of Authenticity.

🛒 Add this remarkable Nummulites Fossil to your collection today!

[galswintha]

STROMIEC

Stromiec is a peak in the Kaczawskie Mountains. It is built of Upper Cretaceous marls, limestones and sandstones, which make at its summit a 200 m long rock wall with a few caves inside. These sediments are part of the geological unit known as the Wleń Graben. The mountain is covered with spruce and beech forests. Stromiec is visible from a distance thanks to the characteristic cone-like silhouette, and it's easy to mistake it for Ostrzyca Proboszczowicka although Stromiec unlike the former it is not an extinct volcano.

[rock-swag-tournament]

Can Fossils Qualify for the Swag:tm: Tournament? just wanted to ask before i sent any pics of my fossils over-

Just to keep the scope of the competition a bit smaller, I’m going to say no single fossil samples for this tournament (e.g. don’t submit just a t-red skull or a crinoid stem or a fern imprint if you aren’t submitting the rock it is part of). That being said, rocks that are defined by having fossils or rocks that happen to contain fossils are more than welcome (explained below).

Also, I personally would love to see pictures of your fossils and will happily post them, if you’d like! Just no voting on them because I think it would distract from the rocks themselves and make the tournament quite a bit more complicated than I planned!

For anyone interested in rocks that are defined by having fossils that would be GREAT entries for the competition, read on.

(Note: I’m posting this on mobile so sorry for the long post. I’ll edit and add the read more tomorrow)

Some general examples: coquina is a rock made up pretty much entirely of the shells of invertebrate creatures; fossiliferous limestone is limestone with fossils in it. However, you can get a lot more specific, as you will soon see!

There is a way to classify certain sedimentary rocks (specifically ones made of carbonate aka CaCO3 aka the secretions of certain marine species) called the Folk classification. In this system, rocks are named partially based on how much of a rock is made up of allochems (grains, bits, pieces of STUFF). The other part the name is based on is what is the material that is holding these grains together. Anyway, a lot of the time, these allochems can be FOSSILS! Here’s a diagram:

There’s another classification method for calcareous (made of carbonate) sedimentary rocks called the Dunham classification. It is somewhat similar because it focuses on how much STUFF is in the rock, but one of the benefits is that this naming scheme is more specific for rocks with corals, algal mats, and other similar types of fossils/marine life. Here’s a diagram:

Finally, some rock formations (a rock unit or layer that can be defined and also distinguished from other rock units) are classified at least in part by the fossils they contain. For example, I got my undergrad degree in Virginia and there was a nearby formation called the Antietam formation. It’s a quartz sandstone that has sometimes been metamorphosed (that is, turned into a metamorphic rock) into a quartzite. Aside from its composition, one of its defining characteristics is the fact that it contains skolithos fossils! This allows it to be distinguished from other formations that are also quartz sandstones/quartzites. Also, skolithos are trace fossils left by burrowing creatures. So in this case, if you wanted to submit the Antietam formation to the rock tournament instead of a generic sandstone because you like the skolithos fossils, that is totally something you can do.

Picture of skolithos:

I hope this makes sense, and if you have any more questions (about the competition or about rocks in general) feel free to send an ask!

[equatorjournal]

Dario Sodero, The Canadian Arctic, 1977.

Geologist measuring sedimentary strata in calcareous rocks, Ellesmere Island.

[cedar-glade]

Interior Low Plateaus’ Cave alumroot  near dormant state.

Heuchera parviflora var. parviflora

couldn’t help stopping by this population for fun

this species var. is only found in the sub region of the Appalachian mountains ranging from the Ohio River Valley down through Dan Boone into the Cumberland Gap passing the cedar barrens of central TN basin into Alabama dolomites and sandstone hills known as the Interior Low Plateaus. 

this specific photo is from Red River Gorge, Ky

The Interior Low Plateaus are a remnant of upheval events caused by several arch events that caused secondary mountain formation along the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. This fraction of ecoregion is usually lumped into the Interior Centeral Lowlands due to glacial events being it’s primary cause.

The core of this section where the upheavals, dome deformation, and glacial weathering events have occurred in their own stratification really seem like they are a hotspot for these biological variation and local endemism events ( its honestly the part of Appalachia I am most enamored by because of how unusual it is.)  

 As you may know, the Interior lowlands of the North were pretty much smacked by the Wisconsin glaciation,Illinoisan glaciation, and of course the Pre Illinoisan glaciation which caused the upper prairie peninsula in Appalachia; but, it did little compared to the outwash and deposition events following the true glaciation events of the Pleistocene epoch and the rebounding and upheaval that caused glacial lakes to be depleted, platuelands to be formed, and dome formation/ depletion that followed. 

 Refugiums and bare rocks penetrated by prairie and Pleistocene ripperian forests in the forms of sandstone/ lime/dolostone gorges, cedar glades, and fragipan enforced fens in these regions were set into motion to eventually have population isolation events and high levels to low levels of endemism occurrences. 

This region of upheaval caused by the Cincinnati arch and the upper flanks of Findlay Arch and Kankakee arches which caused the creation of the Nashville dome and its degeneration is the very same that caused the upheaval of semi concreted sandstone from preillinoisan outwash and the upheaval of the nearly to completely horizontal beds of Paleozoic sandstone, shales, and calcareous sedimentary rocks. These are the Interior Low Plateaus 

The limestone of the province is marked by well-developed karst topography which can be seen in many different forms of formation, undercutting, talussing , and water weathering. Mammoth Cave National Park is considered one such location where all forms of calcareous karst formation seem to be present in some shape and form. There are even some subsurface tavertine exposures. When it comes to Sandstone formations I may be a bit biased to Red River Gorge, but many locations exist with sandstone cliff endemism. 

.  

[earthstory]

Hallett Cove - 600 million years of history at a single glance!

Depicted in these photos is the stunning geology at Hallett Cove, South Australia.

600 million years ago this entire area was submerged in the sea. Silts and sands were deposited in a deep marine, passive margin environment and then, 500 million years ago, folded and uplifted during a period of mountain-building. This mountain-building event is known as the Delamerian orogeny and was the result of stress transfer during the formation of the supercontinent Gondwana. From my understanding, the energy generated by the impact of Gondwanan formation was conducted through the crust, allowing the plate to “crumple”, causing folding and thrust faulting. The first image depicts the Wave-cut Platform, which is the eroded limb of a massive fold under Black Hill. Those bumpy, black lines are actually sedimentary beds which are now lying almost vertically due to folding.

Between 500-280 million years ago, there is an unconformity. An unconformity is essentially a record of erosion, and the parts that are “missing” can tell us a great deal about what happened to the region between the time of erosion and the next depositional event. This particular unconformity records the erosion of the Delamerian Highlands (a mountain range) into low hills.

During the Permian (280 million years ago) Australia was covered by an ice sheet, similar to that which covers Antarctica at present. As the ice sheet moved toward the north-west over southern Australia, it scoured the surface and left glacial pavements. Glaciers usually pick up all kinds of rock fragments and sediments which become embedded in the underside. These etch the surface of whatever material the glacier’s underbelly comes into contact with. Because the striations are straight, we can also get a basic sense of the direction in which the glacier was moving. A world-class example of the striations made by a glacier can be seen atop Black Hill and is shown in photo #2.

Between 280-3 million years ago, Australia began to warm and the ice started to melt. Deposits of soft, pale glacial sediments and ‘drop stones’ (also called ‘erratics’) were deposited. Drop stones are larger rock fragments that are found amongst finer-grained sediments in sedimentary rocks and can be diagnostic of past glacial activity. Photo #3 depicts evidence of glacial melting as recorded by the Sugarloaf, a large, white, cone-like structure. The Sugarloaf was formed when sediments accumulated in a lake formed by melting glaciers. There is also an unconformity here that records the period where Hallett Cove underwent a subsequent period of erosion and much of the glacial sediment was removed.

At 3 million years ago, the area underwent downfaulting, which means that it sank in relation to its surrounds. This type of faulting occurs due to extensional events where essentially, the ground pulls apart and shears apart or detaches along weak points in the Earth’s crust. Then, the newly detached material slides down to fill the void created by extension. This sunken area is also known as a ‘graben’. At Hallett Cove, the downfaulted area was submerged in a shallow, warm sea. This is evidenced by the thin layer of fossiliferous white sandstone that overlies the remaining glacial sediments. Before long, the neighbouring Mt. Lofty Ranges began another period of uplift and Hallett Cove was exposed as land yet again.

2 million years ago, a thick layer of alluvial silt and clay was deposited as a floodplain by rivers flowing down to the coast from the Mt. Lofty Ranges. Further uplift of the area (which continutes today) has resulted in even more erosion, giving the formation its characteristic ‘badlands’ appearance. Today, this feature is known as the Amphitheatre. It has a striking red colouration, caused by iron oxides (which can be seen in photo #3) and is capped by a layer of hard calcrete, which is formed when calcite-rich waters permeate calcareous soil or regolith, precipitating as a hard crust when the water evaporates at the surface. It is common in arid and semi-arid environments.

YK

Image credits: The Wave-cut Platform - “rock beach” by sunphlo (c) 2011. (https://flic.kr/p/aT9SRg). Used under creative commons licensing. The Sugarloaf - “The Hump::HDR” by Ikhwan Zailani (c) 2012. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Hump_HDR_(8297135638).jpg). Used under creative commons licensing. Glacial Pavement atop Black Hill - "Glacial rock scrapings" by sunphlo on flickr, creative commons

Further reading: http://www.mindat.org/article.php/957/Overview+of+Hallett+Cove+Geological+History https://www.marion.sa.gov.au/hallett-cove-conservation-park http://austhrutime.com/delamerian_orogeny.htm http://crcleme.org.au/RegLandEvol/MtLofty.pdf http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105b/images/gaia_chapter_6/unconformities.htm http://users.sa.chariot.net.au/~littoral/hallettcove/geology.htm

[marineexplorer]

Boulder made in Australia - by corals #marineexplorer by John Turnbull Via Flickr: Limestone is a sedimentary rock made when skeletons of calcareous sea creatures like corals and shells are pressed into rock below the earth's surface. This boulder on a beach on Lord Howe Island is an even more direct example of corals making rocks and reefs - a boulder that started as a massive coral colony, dislodged and eroded smooth by wave action. The skeletal bases of the coral polyps show up as a blotched pattern on the rock. I'm surrounded by hundreds of similar boulders in this shot.

[randomtimes-com]

Edward Leedskalnin and the mysteries of Coral Castle

Coral Castle, Florida, is popular for legends that claim it was built by Edward Leedskalnin alone, using magnetism or supernatural abilities to move numerous stones, each weighing many tons. -Pavel👀......read on #randomtimes_com 👇🏼

Coral Castle is one of the most visited places in Florida and is the most modern monolithic complex in the world, made with calcareous oolite. Commonly mistakenly believed to be made of coral, it is made with oolite, a sedimentary rock composed of small spherical grains of concentrically layered carbonate that may include localized concentrations of fossil shells and coral. Castle’s story is very…

[kittenfrown0-blog]

Fascination About Rose All Day

Study presents the oldest reports regarding the record of Petrus copulates back to the mid 1750's, making it one of the earliest established vineyards in Pomerol. In the middle of a buzzing midtown setting, the urban red wine setting is actually electrical, along with loads of tasting areas and also working wineries peppering the city. This is why the region is actually famous for being one of the coolest grape expanding regions in California, with normal temps reaching the top around 70-- 80 F (20-- 27 C) and also falling to around 50 F (10 C) in the evening. Syrah wines away are taken note for having even more body weight and also attention than a French Syrah (coming from Northern Rhne) however extra vibrancy as well as quality than warmer regions like Napa. The top quality of Petrus and its red or white wine began earning distinctions quickly after the phylloxera wide-ranging wrecked many of Bordeaux. Sobolevskiy, who lives in Brooklyn, pointed out merely champion tattoo design grand expert Alexander Mikhailin could have performed the work in such exact particular. That plan lasted a few years, as a result of the hectic routine of Professor Peynaud. On the edge of ripeness, this little (2700 grown acres) hilly AVA depends on the western side component of the larger Santa Ynez AVA. The Petrus wineries are actually replanted at a pace that allows work to be actually conducted on a section of one hectare every 7 to 9 years. The goal design vineyard sits up on a small hill and is fronted by a broad grass. Along with everything property, in addition to the most effective hotel and also bistro in Libourne, they were actually properly connected. They host shows and there is a member only kind tasting location. 5 levels Celsius, 60 levels Fahrenheit. In the 1950s and also 1960s, the Kennedys became fans. It offered for concerning the same rate as the First Growths in those times. Grounds vary from wallets of calcareous sedimentary rock that aid keep level of acidity, diatomaceous the planet (also known as DE) makes strong red wines, soft sand dirts create even more fruit product steered types, as well as eventually, clay-based loam blends maintain dampness for parched vines. If you ever desired to examine this area out personally, today is the moment. Fifty% of this particular region is actually dedicated to this grape creating it the only AVA in the USA devoted to this grape. - Moueix. - Travel Pointer. - Petrus, Wine Making, Vinification - Manufacturing. The Single Best Strategy To Use For Santa Barbara Wineries - The premises are spotless. Pinot Noirs are very sweet-smelling (violets, flowers, spices) with a touch of full-flavored meat and also a highly effective structure. For one, diversity is decision memory card below. Their target was to supply both rookies and also fans the chance to find out about as well as sample the red or white wines of several assortments and also types crafted from the Area's ideal vineyards. The following phase for Petrus opened in 2008, when the thirty three years of age Olivier Berrouet replaced his papa as the a glass of wine maker for Petrus. When this sort of clay-based soaks up water, it ends up being nonporous. The next primary change for Petrus took place in 2014. However, considerably of the miracle that creates Santa Barbara a first-rate wine-making location is actually Mother earth's workmanship. [9] At the Paris Presentation Universelle of 1878, Ptrus succeeded a gold medal, [3] each time when such an event had incredibly significant outcomes, developing a market price at the degree of a Mdoc second development, [4] the very first red or white wine of Pomerol to accomplish thus. The wineries benefit from the special terroir of the Santa Maria valley. Petrus was actually later offered to Antoine Arnaud in 1770. It has a comfy and inviting environment. The finest olds of Petrus requirement 20-30 years just before they end up being totally mature and also begin featuring their correct significance and presenting the main reason why very affluent wine enthusiasts pay for 1000s of dollars for a singular container of Petrus. The Fess Parker brand name is apparent throughout Santa Barbara wine country. It's consistently a delight seeing with the daddy as well as child during the course of the April tastings at Petrus.

[uk-fossils]

Nummulites laengryus Fossil - Bracklesham Beds, Eocene - Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK - Genuine with COA

Nummulites laengryus Fossil - Bracklesham Beds, Eocene - Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK

This is a genuine fossil specimen of Nummulites laengryus, a species of Foraminifera, sourced from the Bracklesham Beds, Eocene period, Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK. Nummulites are single-celled marine organisms with distinctive, disk-shaped calcareous shells, which accumulated over millions of years to form vast limestone deposits. These fascinating microfossils played a crucial role in shaping ancient marine ecosystems and are of significant scientific interest.

Geological Information:

Species: Nummulites laengryus

Fossil Type: Foraminifera (Single-celled Marine Protist)

Age: Eocene (~56 to 33.9 million years ago)

Formation: Bracklesham Beds

Location: Bracklesham Bay, Sussex, UK

Preservation: Fossilized calcite shells embedded in sedimentary rock

About Nummulites: Nummulites are a type of foraminifera, microscopic marine protozoans that produce multi-chambered shells. These organisms thrived in warm, shallow seas and their abundant remains helped form limestone deposits, particularly in regions like the Bracklesham Beds and the famous Eocene Nummulitic Limestone of the Mediterranean.

Fossils of Nummulites provide valuable insights into paleoclimates, ancient marine ecosystems, and biostratigraphy, helping geologists date sedimentary rock layers.

Key Features:

100% genuine fossil specimen of Nummulites laengryus

Comes with a Certificate of Authenticity

Well-preserved fossil with visible spiral structure and calcite shell details

Sourced from the Bracklesham Beds, Eocene, a renowned fossiliferous site in the UK

A fascinating piece of geological and paleontological history

Ideal for collectors, geologists, paleontologists, and educators

Handling & Care:

Fragile Specimen: Handle with care to preserve its delicate structure.

Keep Dry: Store in a dry environment to prevent deterioration.

Cleaning Tip: Use a soft brush to remove any dust or debris. Avoid harsh chemicals or moisture exposure.

Additional Information:

The photos show the actual specimen you will receive, ensuring transparency and authenticity.

Scale cube = 1cm; for full sizing, please refer to the images provided.

Expertly packed for safe and secure shipping.

This Nummulites laengryus Fossil is a rare and scientifically significant specimen, perfect for anyone passionate about fossils, ancient marine life, or natural history. Buy with confidence, knowing you are receiving a 100% authentic fossil, backed by our Certificate of Authenticity.

🛒 Add this remarkable Nummulites Fossil to your collection today!

[mothernatureminerals]

💜Amethyst Geode over 12 LB!💜 📖Crystal knowledge post: What is a crystal Geode? 📖 . A geode is a large, hollow rock, lined with crystals naturally growing inside the rock. It has a durable outer wall that is more resistant to weathering than the surrounding bedrock.  This allows the geode to survive intact when the surrounding bedrock weathers away. The mineral lining the cavity is often a scintillating druse of tiny quartz crystals underlain by multiple bands of translucent gray and white agate. Many are lined with more spectacular treasures. Formed in nature and by nature, each geode has a different type of crystal and different type of energy within. The geode helps you connect with your inner self, healing from within, as the crystals in the geode grow inside the rock. . Different Types of Geodes: -Volcanic Geode: The most widely known and sought-after geodes are those that formed in areas of volcanic activity. Voids in basaltic lava flows often are infilled with agate, quartz, opal and other material delivered by hydrothermal water or groundwater. Some voids are spaces occupied by gases that failed to escape the lava flow before its surface crusted over. -Sedimentary Geodes: Geodes in sedimentary rocks are usually found in limestones, dolomites, and calcareous shale. In these deposits a gas-filled void can serve as the opening for geode formation. Shells, tree branches, roots and other organic materials often decay away to leave a void for the formation of mineral materials. These cavities can be filled with quartz, opal, agate or carbonate minerals. . 🔮These beauty is available for sale on my Etsy! Link in bio!🔮 . . #crystals #crystal #crystalhealing #crystalsforsale #crystalshop #crystalbusiness #witchesofinstagram #crystalcollection #crystalsofig #crystalsofinstagram #crystalsofig #stonehealing #reiki #witchesofinsta #witch #witchesofig #reikihealing #witchcrystals #reikicrystals #crystalgeode #geode #amethystgeode #amethyst #amethystcrystal #crystalknowledge #crystaldefinition #mothernatureminerals Information from: https://www.karmaandluck.com/blogs/crystals/geode-meaning-and-spiritual-healing-properties https://www.instagram.com/p/CEhhZiDhrDe/?igshid=2g4clqjp1zvi

[irmopradelli]

🇮🇹 Agrigento. La Scala dei Turchi è costituita di marna, una roccia sedimentaria di natura argillosa e calcarea, con un caratteristico colore bianco puro. Scogliera dal singolare aspetto che si erge tra 2 spiagge di sabbia fine, per accedervi bisogna procedere lungo il litorale e inerpicarsi in una salita somigliante a una grande scalinata naturale di pietra calcarea. Una volta raggiunta la sommità della scogliera, il paesaggio visibile abbraccia la costa agrigentina fino a Capo Rossello. Scala dei Turchi è un sito geologicamente noto anche perché è possibile riconoscere in maniera molto semplice le ciclicità legate alle variazione dei parametri orbitali in particolare si possono ben correlare le variazioni di insolazione con cicli di mediamente 21.000 anni e le variazioni di eccentricità dell'orbita con cicli di durata mediamente di 100.000 anni. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 🇬🇧 Agrigento. La Scala of Turkys is made up of marl, a sedimentary rock of a clayey and calcareous nature, with a characteristic pure white color. this cliff from the singular aspect rises between two beaches of fine sand, to access it you have to proceed along the coast and climb up a climb resembling a large natural limestone staircase. once reached the top of the cliff, the visible landscape embraces the Agrigento coast up to Capo Rossello. scala dei Turchi is a geologically known site also because it is possible to recognize in a very simple way the cyclicality linked to the variation of the orbital parameters, in particular the variations of insolation can be well correlated with cycles of on average 21.000 years. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #ig_sicilia #volgoagrigento #yallerssicilia #igerssicilia #sicilia_bestphoto_ #italiastyle20 #siciliabedda❤️ #thehub_italia #italia_shotz #italiait #alluring_italy #excellent_italy #italy_ig #italyvacation #map_of_italy #sicilia_cartoline #don_in_italy #perfect_italia #italia_super_pics #sicilia_photogroup #_siciliaphotos #loves_sicilia #sicilia_nel_cuore #europe_ig #siciliamondo #europestyle_ #total_europe #europe_perfection #new_photoitalia (presso Scala Dei Turchi-Agrigento) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDl4q-vs3Fm/?igshid=646p8xn6sk54

[cedar-glade]

Calcareous impact breccia, Im extremely jealous of ecosystems in temperate regions where extraterrestrial impacts occur on sedimentary rock and are old enough for extreme evolution to occur. Our impact In Ohio, although the cause of some strange disjunct populations and globally rare habitat, has no endemics associated with it. What is impact breccia? It’s a specific kind of ultra metamorphic rock caused by extreme jarring, heat, and pressure of large impacts. There are other types of breccia out there, but this one is caused by an impact and is always irregular and nebulous in form. The mixing of strata can lead to fracturing in the shape of the sharp jagged shards of impact breccia, these sharp shards shatter in different shapes/sizes and may be found in a distort density enough to weather the rock irregularly and a poorly deposited spatial imbrication of the mixed strata. Whats funny was that originally this impact was diagnosed as polymict to monomict mixing and was dismissed until much later. The strata that were involved with our impact were that of the Middle-Late Silurian, much before the impact, and are associated from Peebles Dolomite to Brassfield members. Other breccia is formed as secondary breccia but that's not what you are looking at. Uplift breccia(involving Ordovician), fault breccia, and transitional breccia( Lower Silurian= Rochester (Estill) Shale to the Upper Devonian Ohio Shale) can be seen on the site as well. These large scale uplift/depression sites cause some strange localized anomalies as far as microclimates, soil chemistry, hydrology, and tallusing is concerned. So it makes sense why we have disjunction but it would also make sense to have some endemic evolution. I suppose that's just wishful thinking.