Heavy Metal Contamination (was Re: Paleoworld)

[Richard W Travsky <rtravsky@uwyo.edu>]

On Mon, 16 Nov 1998 TomHopp@aol.com wrote:
> [...]
> This reminds me of a hilarious article I read about ten years ago in -- I
> think -- Natural History Magazine. It was illustrated with a weapon-toting
> theropod, and facetiously made the case that heavy metal contamination and
> extinction of large animals are signs of OUR times, so maybe dinos went out as
> we may, by pollution or nuclear means. It was cute.

That's an interesting idea. Iridium and chromium (in large amounts)
could've had a toxic affect? Or perhaps side effects, like thinner shells?

Out of those creatures that survived the (alledged) impact, what is their
tolerance to these metals?

Rich