Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Nialler · 09-26-2002, 06:51 AM

Hi, and sorry for disturbing you if this has been covered before. I tried a search, but it returned nothing.

Anyway, here goes: what is the position of science regarding the "fossilised" cowboy boots and leg bone.

My assumption is that it is complete bunkum, and either the thing was forged or doesn't contain a fossilised remain.

Is there a resource which deals with this and was the artefact examined scientifically?

Claudia · 09-26-2002, 07:17 AM

I know nothing about these specifical "fossils", but if they are covered with limestone, it is probably due to "petrificating springs", these kinds of springs so saturated in minerals that they cover very quickly with these minerals the objects put in the water.
Seing the speed of limestone deposition of tap water in recipients at home, nothing surprizing there.

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Claudia ]</p>

Blinn · 09-26-2002, 07:29 AM

If buried under the proper conditions, bone can remineralize in <a href="http://www.dinosauria.com/jdp/fossil/fossil.htm" target="_blank">5-10 years</a>. So there's nothing extraordinary about the boot. The creationist blurb associated with the boot is <a href="http://informationcentre.tripod.com/boot.html" target="_blank">here</a>.

Quote:

The fact that some materials can fossilize rapidly under certain circumstances is well known by experts in the field and is not really a scientific issue. However, the general public has been misled in order to facilitate the impression of great ages.

They just try to use it to get some mileage out of their "evolutionist conspiracy" claim, i.e. we're trying to pull a big hoax over on the general public.

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Zetek ]</p>

MrDarwin · 09-26-2002, 07:53 AM

By the creationist definition of "fossilization" my teakettle and all the faucets in my house must be fossilized, because they are all encrusted with lime.

RBH · 09-26-2002, 11:51 AM

Just a limestone coooooowboy.
The water drips down
and his legs slowly tuuurn to stoooone.

Just a limestone coooooowboy.
His boots hurt his feet
but they won't when they're tuuurned to stooooooone.

Where's old Glen Campbell when you need him?

RBH

[ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: RBH ]</p>

ps418 · 09-26-2002, 01:17 PM

Zetek and MrDarwin have basically answered this. But I want to point out that there are many different types and processes of fossilization. Some of them do indeed operate slowly, and some of them operate quickly, depending for example on the availability of the necessary ions (ie. the saturation state of the environment). For instance, the precipitation of calicite in the pore spaces can happen pretty quickly in many shallow marine environments (yrs to decades). Total replacement of fossils by glauconites, on the other hand, would take much longer under any natural conditions. Check out <a href="http://people.uncw.edu/dockal/gly312/co3diagen/carbdiagen.htm" target="_blank">diagenesis in carbonate rocks </a> for some more information.

Nialler · 09-27-2002, 12:32 AM

Thanks for your replies - and for the song!!!

My experience at getting good data from this board is a joy.

09-26-2002, 06:51 AM	#1
Nialler Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paris Posts: 8,473	The Limestone Cowboy Hi, and sorry for disturbing you if this has been covered before. I tried a search, but it returned nothing. Anyway, here goes: what is the position of science regarding the "fossilised" cowboy boots and leg bone. My assumption is that it is complete bunkum, and either the thing was forged or doesn't contain a fossilised remain. Is there a resource which deals with this and was the artefact examined scientifically?

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09-26-2002, 07:17 AM	#2
Claudia Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: France Posts: 715	I know nothing about these specifical "fossils", but if they are covered with limestone, it is probably due to "petrificating springs", these kinds of springs so saturated in minerals that they cover very quickly with these minerals the objects put in the water. Seing the speed of limestone deposition of tap water in recipients at home, nothing surprizing there. [ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: Claudia ]</p>

09-26-2002, 07:53 AM	#4
MrDarwin Veteran Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 4,140	By the creationist definition of "fossilization" my teakettle and all the faucets in my house must be fossilized, because they are all encrusted with lime.

09-26-2002, 11:51 AM	#5
RBH Contributor Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 15,407	Just a limestone coooooowboy. The water drips down and his legs slowly tuuurn to stoooone. Just a limestone coooooowboy. His boots hurt his feet but they won't when they're tuuurned to stooooooone. Where's old Glen Campbell when you need him? RBH [ September 26, 2002: Message edited by: RBH ]</p>

09-26-2002, 01:17 PM	#6
ps418 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Louisville, KY, USA Posts: 1,840	Zetek and MrDarwin have basically answered this. But I want to point out that there are many different types and processes of fossilization. Some of them do indeed operate slowly, and some of them operate quickly, depending for example on the availability of the necessary ions (ie. the saturation state of the environment). For instance, the precipitation of calicite in the pore spaces can happen pretty quickly in many shallow marine environments (yrs to decades). Total replacement of fossils by glauconites, on the other hand, would take much longer under any natural conditions. Check out <a href="http://people.uncw.edu/dockal/gly312/co3diagen/carbdiagen.htm" target="_blank">diagenesis in carbonate rocks </a> for some more information.

09-27-2002, 12:32 AM	#7
Nialler Banned Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Paris Posts: 8,473	Thanks for your replies - and for the song!!! My experience at getting good data from this board is a joy.

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