Grand Canyon Is "Frankenstein" of Geologic Formations 132
sciencehabit writes "It's a debate that has vexed scientists for decades: Is the Grand Canyon young or old, geologically speaking? Both, a new study declares. A group of scientists reports that the famed formation is a hybrid of five different gorges of various ages--two of three middle segments formed between 70 million and 50 million years ago and between 25 million and 15 million years ago, but the two end segments were carved in the past 5 million to 6 million years--and the Colorado River only tied them into a single continuous canyon 5 million or 6 million years ago."
Google River View (Score:5, Interesting)
For those who don't know, you can cruise through the Grand Canyon on the Colorado River via Street (River) view... but who the hell is the guy in the sunglasses?
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=grand+canyon&hl=en&ll=36.180562,-113.116608&spn=0.215596,0.885086&sll=-34.880632,138.660651&sspn=0.030277,0.055318&t=h&hnear=Grand+Canyon&z=11&layer=c&cbll=36.180623,-113.116661&panoid=3hhY7tdbII1RSBq3fRGQ6A&cbp=12,41.4,,0,-2.93 [google.com]
Re:Prediction: (Score:2, Interesting)
The problem is too many geologists resemble Baptist preachers in their adherence to what they believe is the truth, and lose the skepticism that should mark any good scientist. For example, there is much to be said for the theory that the Colorado River is simply following the path of least resistance through an area where an ancient sea had drained. The canyons were cut by eroding water as the sea disappeared.
BUNK! (Score:2, Interesting)
I live by the Grand Canyon. These scientists are idiots. Most of us that live here know that the Grand Canyon was formed in a very short period of time. It did not take millions of years to form. Scientist get one thing stuck in their head and then can't think of anything else. Answer me one question... if you can answer it then it will prove to me that the Grand Canyon developed over millions of years. Where is all the dirt?
With any river system where erosion occurs there is a delta. With the Grand Canyon system there is no delta... i.e... no erosion over millions of years. The erosion happened very quickly... most likely from 3 lakes similar to the Great Salt Lake that drained because a land dam broke in the top lake. The lakes drained into each other and over ran the lower lake's land dam. There is satellite imagery evidence of these 3 lakes that support his view.
Also there is other evidence to support this view. When Mount Saint Helens blew it created a similar canyon. There is also another “Grand Canyon” in Hawaii called Waimea Canyon. The Waimea Canyon was created very quickly as well. It was created when the land collapsed. In both of these cases there are no delta regions from long erosion periods.
Oh and for you closed minded people, no I am not a creationist.