Re: Volcanics in...

[smithjb@sas.upenn.edu (Joshua Smith)]

Ray Stanford wrote:
> 
>     Dr. Smith:
> 
>     In view of what is shown below (from you to list, today) does this mean
> that in the e-mail exchange you and I had shortly before the Dinofest '98
> symposium, I was not in error in having told someone on the list that the
> Sinosauropteryx slabs had volcanics in their layer.  Or, was I way out in
> left field on that?   Since I'm not much into geology, I would deeply
> appreciate it if you could straighten me out on this.
> 
>     THANKS SINCERELY,
> 
>     Ray Stanford
> 

        Hi, Ray.  I trust that all is well with you.  If I recall our 
early April conversations correctly, you were asking whether or not there 
were volcanoclastic materials within these slabs (i.e., ash, volcanically 
derived minerals within the cements, ect.).  I don't recall what I told 
you, but if I told you anything other than "it is possible, let me get 
back to you on it" then I was completely talking out of my butt.  

        I am currently working on just that problem as we speak.  One of 
the hypotheses that has been thrown around with all of this Laioning 
business is "hmmm...how come we have these nice assemblages of fossils in 
distinct layers, why are they not randomly distributed across the 
quarries like they are in the Green River Formation in Wyoming? ect. ect."
>From this question, and with the proximities of the quarries to volcanic 
deposits (volcanoclastic sedimentary rock (ash falls, tuffs, debris flow 
deposits, stuff like that (not a fun time if you are there while it is 
happening))), the question has been raised as to whether or not the 
assemblages might be volcanic mass-kill events.  I am working on the 
petrology of these rocks to try and see if I can find out just that.
However, I am months away from an answer, so if I told you anything else 
than that in April, then I need to be kicked. Hopefully we will have data 
soon.

        However, as far as the specific slabs that hold Sino of Caudo 
ect., until someone lets me or someone else do a similar analysis of 
THOSE PARTICULAR SLABS (good bloody luck!), then we have no idea if those 
particular slabs contain volcanoclastic materials or not. 

        How is that?

        Cheers,
        josh

-- 
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Josh Smith
Department of Geology
University of Pennsylvania
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