Science Forums 2

[Eclogite]

I wish to address a single aspect of the discussion: the postulate that the globally complex inter-relationships of sediments and their contained fossils are the product of a single event.

While Shubee's first axiom, if I understand it correctly, is that quantum mechanics allows anything to happen, I feel constrained to agree with William of Ockham and to 'go for the simpler explanation'.

Sedimentary rocks have a considerable number of defining properties: these include grain size, shape, angularity and sorting; cementation type and extent; matrix type and extent; structural features such as bedding planes, graded bedding, cross bedding, flute and sole marks, etc.

Extensive study has shown that these vary in relation to the environment in which the sediments are deposited. In addition various diagenetic changes of mineral composition and microscopic and macroscopic structure also occur in response to the specific environment. We have observed the vast majority of these characteristics within modern depositional environments. Therefore we can - and it seems reasonable to do so - we can interpret the environment of deposition of ancient sediments on the basis of their properties.
When we do so we not only find that such matches are straighforward, but we find the lateral and vertical change of environment is consistent with what we see in modern depositional settings. The fudnamental dictum of geology - the present is the key to the past - is repeatedly validated.

The probability that this same complex interplay of environments, apparently covering billions of years of the Earth's history in a remarkably self consistent way, could actually be the result of chance happenings associated with a single event, is so vastly improbable that it merits the description impossible.