Evolution What the Fossils Say and Why it Matters

(Elliott) #1
The Fossil Record 65

Precambrian

Cambrian

Devonian

Mississippian

Pennsylvanian

Permian

Triassic

Jurassic

Cretaceous

Paleogene Fm
Ss
Ls

=
=
=

Formation
Sandstone
Limestone

Claron Fm

Kaiparowits Fm
Wahweap Ss
Straight Cliffs Ss
Tropic Shale
Dakota Ss
Winsor Fm
Curtis Ss
Entrada Ss
Carmel FmNavajo Ss

Older rocks not exposed

Carmel Fm
Navajo Ss
Kayenta Fm
Wingate Ss
Chinle Fm
Moenkopi Fm
Kaibab Ls
Older rocks not exposed

Moenkopi Fm
Kaibab Ls
Toroweap Fm
Coconino Ss
Hermit Shale
Supai Fm
Redwall Ls
Temple Butte Ls
Colorado
River

Muav Fm
Tapeats Ss

Vishnu
Schist

Grand
Canyon
Series

Bright Angel Shale

Grand Canyon

30 km

Bryce Canyon Zion Canyon

A

B
Fault

Fault C

A BC

FIGURE 3.4. The sequence of rocks in the “Grand Staircase” and Grand Canyon country of Utah and Arizona
shows that the superpositional order of formations and geologic time periods is no geologic fantasy but is
instead based on empirical evidence.


are found on top of “smarter, faster land animals,” including many places in the Atlantic
Coast of the United States, Europe, and Asia, where marine shell beds overlie those bear-
ing land mammals. In some places, like the Calvert Cliffs of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland
(fig. 3.2A) or Sharktooth Hill near Bakersfield, California, the land mammal fossils and the
marine shells are all mixed together, and there are also beds with marine shells above and
below those containing land mammals! How could that make any sense with the “rising
floodwaters” of the creationist model?


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