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What?? Sea Life Fossils at the Top of Mount Everest??
Probing Gemini for Explanations
Have you heard there’s fossils of sea life on the top of Mount Everest — the tallest mountain in the world?
Gemini:
Yes, that’s true! Fossils of marine life, including creatures like trilobites, ammonites, and crinoids, have been found high up in the Himalayas, including on Mount Everest. These fossils provide strong evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics explains how the Earth’s surface is made up of large plates that move slowly over time. Over millions of years, the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia, pushing up the ocean floor and forming the Himalayan Mountains. The presence of marine fossils at such high altitudes is a testament to this immense geologic process.
How old are the Himalayan Mountains?
Gemini:
The exact age of the Himalayas is a subject of ongoing research, but there have been some recent updates! Earlier estimates placed the mountain range’s formation at around 40–50 million years ago.
However, a 2023 study suggested the Himalayas might be even older, with their formation starting between 61 and 63 million years ago [Salon.com]. This new timeline has geologists re-evaluating aspects of climate models that were based on the previous age range.
That’s amazing that they can even get an impression of what the climate was like over 60 million years ago. Do you know how they can begin to do this?
Gemini:
Scientists use a variety of tools and evidence, called proxies, to piece together past climates, especially for times like 60 million years ago. Here are some key methods:
- Fossils: The types of plants and animals preserved as fossils can offer clues about the past…
