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Author Topic:   A series of Questions for our Geologists.
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 16 of 68 (279915)
01-18-2006 5:08 PM


If we look at the area beginning in central Alabama, we see a series of liniar marks that eventually become mountain crests as we move north. But in Alabama, these seem to be very low. What can you good folk tell us about them?
This message has been edited by jar, 01-18-2006 04:08 PM

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by skorpionnegro, posted 01-19-2006 2:48 AM jar has replied

  
skorpionnegro
Inactive Member


Message 17 of 68 (279961)
01-19-2006 2:48 AM
Reply to: Message 16 by jar
01-18-2006 5:08 PM


what you're looking at in that area is definetly some ancestral appalachian orogeny. There might have more erosion taking place near the region where you are at and so as a result that gradient change is not as noticible.

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 Message 16 by jar, posted 01-18-2006 5:08 PM jar has replied

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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 18 of 68 (279982)
01-19-2006 10:19 AM
Reply to: Message 17 by skorpionnegro
01-19-2006 2:48 AM


That sure sounds great, but doesn't mean a whole lot to a slow old man.
What I see looks more like a layer cake seen from the side or an accordion folded paper. The folds are not straight though
How did we get such features?
How do you wear down a mountain?

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
 Message 19 by roxrkool, posted 01-19-2006 10:51 AM jar has replied

  
roxrkool
Member (Idle past 988 days)
Posts: 1497
From: Nevada
Joined: 03-23-2003


Message 19 of 68 (279990)
01-19-2006 10:51 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by jar
01-19-2006 10:19 AM


Any pictures, jar?

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 Message 18 by jar, posted 01-19-2006 10:19 AM jar has replied

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jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 20 of 68 (279991)
01-19-2006 10:54 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by roxrkool
01-19-2006 10:51 AM


Google Earth view
No pics directly, but using Google Earth, you can see what I'm looking at starting just to the NE of Birmingham, AL.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 21 of 68 (279994)
01-19-2006 11:05 AM
Reply to: Message 20 by jar
01-19-2006 10:54 AM


Re: Google Earth view
Funny you should mention Google Earth. I just set up a two-monitor workstation at work, and just for fun (and to test the video card) I loaded Google Earth.
When you set it to span two 19-inch LCD's in fullscreen mode, it's incredible. It's like looking out the windows on the space shuttle. I nearly fell out of my chair (again; nearly fell out the first time I ever ran the program.)

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Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 22 of 68 (283804)
02-04-2006 1:45 AM


I'm not sure seeing a nice shape in nature constitutes an argument for anything, really. There are many, many pretty shapes in nature (many that are even more spectacular than this little anomaly), and they all have perfectly explainable origins. I'm not a geologist, but I do know that the earth's surface often behaves with fluid properties.
If you're interested in this, you should go out and buy this book. I did, and I'm glad I did. It is a giant picture book of (mostly) geographic shapes that seem otherworldly and too spectacular to be true, but they are all scientifically explainable.
This message has been edited by Drewsky, 02-04-2006 01:45 AM

Replies to this message:
 Message 24 by edge, posted 02-04-2006 3:19 PM Dubious Drewski has replied

  
Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 23 of 68 (283805)
02-04-2006 1:55 AM


I have to mention something. Forgive me for asking, but why do I so often see people arguing for the existence of a deity via the format "Look how amazing/complicated/beautiful this is, there's no way this sort of thing just happens. God definately did this."
This is quite the fallacy, if you ask me.

  
edge
Member (Idle past 1706 days)
Posts: 4696
From: Colorado, USA
Joined: 01-09-2002


Message 24 of 68 (283940)
02-04-2006 3:19 PM
Reply to: Message 22 by Dubious Drewski
02-04-2006 1:45 AM


I'm not sure seeing a nice shape in nature constitutes an argument for anything, really.
'A shape', no, but if we see many such shapes it indicates a system. The question becomes whether that system is natural or not.
There are many, many pretty shapes in nature (many that are even more spectacular than this little anomaly), and they all have perfectly explainable origins. I'm not a geologist, but I do know that the earth's surface often behaves with fluid properties.
Under the proper conditions, virtually all materials can flow.
If you're interested in this, you should go out and buy this book. I did, and I'm glad I did. It is a giant picture book of (mostly) geographic shapes that seem otherworldly and too spectacular to be true, ...
But then, they MUST be designed...
...but they are all scientifically explainable.
That is the whole point, isn't it? Why are supernatural explanations so compelling to some people when they are totally unnecessary?

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 Message 22 by Dubious Drewski, posted 02-04-2006 1:45 AM Dubious Drewski has replied

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Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 25 of 68 (283965)
02-04-2006 4:36 PM
Reply to: Message 24 by edge
02-04-2006 3:19 PM


quote:
'A shape', no, but if we see many such shapes it indicates a system. The question becomes whether that system is natural or not.
The presence of a system is a given. There's a system interacting with everything that exists. The question does not, in fact, become whether it is or isn't natural. It generally isn't wise to see a complicated system and settle for "God did it", when the problem is simply that don't know enough about the system that created it.
quote:
Under the proper conditions, virtually all materials can flow.
That's right. That's what I failed to imply. I brought this up to account for the beautiful swooping shape that we see in that Google Earth image. What are you saying?
quote:
But then, they MUST be designed...
No, no they mustn't. How does that imply this? Read my second posting under my first for more elaboration.
If there MUST be a designer, then that designer is simply nature itself. The forces of wind water and gravity alone create some very spectacular and rare sights.
Complication or beauty does not necessarily require intelligence to create it. That is a fact.
quote:
That is the whole point, isn't it? Why are supernatural explanations so compelling to some people when they are totally unnecessary?
I'm sorry, but I don't know what you are trying to say.
I believe supernatural explanations are compelling to some people because they feel the alternative is cold and indifferent. Whether something is true is irrelevant to these people. If it doesn't make them feel good, then it is heresy.
Forgive me for making generalizations.

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 Message 24 by edge, posted 02-04-2006 3:19 PM edge has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 26 by edge, posted 02-04-2006 6:29 PM Dubious Drewski has replied

  
edge
Member (Idle past 1706 days)
Posts: 4696
From: Colorado, USA
Joined: 01-09-2002


Message 26 of 68 (283985)
02-04-2006 6:29 PM
Reply to: Message 25 by Dubious Drewski
02-04-2006 4:36 PM


...
I'm sorry, but I don't know what you are trying to say.
I'm trying to say that I agree with you.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by Dubious Drewski, posted 02-04-2006 4:36 PM Dubious Drewski has replied

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Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 27 of 68 (283986)
02-04-2006 6:31 PM
Reply to: Message 26 by edge
02-04-2006 6:29 PM


Well then, cool.

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 Message 28 by jar, posted 02-04-2006 6:42 PM Dubious Drewski has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 28 of 68 (283989)
02-04-2006 6:42 PM
Reply to: Message 27 by Dubious Drewski
02-04-2006 6:31 PM


But I'm still waiting for the explanation of the mechanism that went into creating the formation I brought up.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 27 by Dubious Drewski, posted 02-04-2006 6:31 PM Dubious Drewski has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 29 by Dubious Drewski, posted 02-04-2006 6:48 PM jar has not replied
 Message 31 by edge, posted 02-04-2006 7:59 PM jar has replied

  
Dubious Drewski
Member (Idle past 2530 days)
Posts: 73
From: Alberta
Joined: 02-04-2006


Message 29 of 68 (283991)
02-04-2006 6:48 PM
Reply to: Message 28 by jar
02-04-2006 6:42 PM


I don't personally know this. If you were to ask a geologist that has spent some time in the area or studied the area, he or she might be able to give an acceptable explanation.
I'm a student of the arts! My knowledge of geology is anything but detailed.
Remember this: If I cannot explain it, it doesn't imply that no one can explain it. And if it turns out that no one on earth can explain it yet, that doesn't create a positive proof towards supernaturalism. It just means we haven't learned enough about it yet.
[edit] The entire history of human beings should tell you this. As our understanding of the world around us increases, the opportunities to just say "God did it" decrease. Remember that we used to say "God did it" for every observable thing we saw in nature. We now know better.
This message has been edited by Drewsky, 02-04-2006 07:00 PM

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edge
Member (Idle past 1706 days)
Posts: 4696
From: Colorado, USA
Joined: 01-09-2002


Message 30 of 68 (284012)
02-04-2006 7:55 PM
Reply to: Message 29 by Dubious Drewski
02-04-2006 6:48 PM


You are correct. These are folded sedimentary rocks related to the Appalachian orogeny. The same thing occurs near my old alma mater in the Valley and Ridge physiographic province - not sure what they call it down there. The lineations are formed by folding and thrust faulting of the early Paleozoic sequence consisting of varying lithologies. Variable erosion has led to definition of the surface features including long, linear ridges and intervening valleys. They are cut off on the southwest end by the embayment that Rox talked about. This is pretty basic geology where the older Appalachian structures are cut by the younger unconformity (which of course doesn't really exist according to YECs) upon which the Mesozoic rocks have been deposited. The last major event is regression of the sea which leaves the younger rocks exposed. The arc you described earlier is an unconformity.

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