Question

What is wrong with the traditional historical geology view that successive petrified fossil forests at Specimen Ridge, Yellowstone were created by volcanic eruptions which buried and petrified forest trees right where they stood over a 50 million year period?

Group of answer choices

Their petrified trees lacked bark and branches.

All the above.

Some petrified trees at different levels have tree rings that match.

The roots of their petrified trees were just stubs and the soil was gone.

Answer 1

Biology

Answer- b) all of the above

The geologists explain the petrified forests of yellowstone as the result of an ongoing cycle.

A) Normally, trees have root systems that are very extensive.But in yellowstone, roots and branches of many petrified trees were actually broken off before the trees were burried. Trees that grow in that place and then were petrified should have shown an extensive petrified root system. But its not the case. Their petrified trees lacked roots and branches.

C) if volcanic eruptions would have been the cause.. the first level forest should have buried and later given rise to the next level forests. Thus the age of the trees should have been different showing different rings. But some petrified trees at different levels have similar tree rings that match.

D)the roots were just stubs like root balls and not extensive root system. Also if vicanic eruptions was the cause, the volanic ashes should have been converted to clay and then to soil years later. But here, soil was gone.

All of the above are correct.(b option)

Thus all these shows that volcanic eruptions are not the one which causes petrification of trees and their burial.