Fossil sites and the Fountains of the Great Deep

Famous Fossil Sites Are Located Near the Fountains of the Great Deep

Introduction

Gen. 7:11 "In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened."

These fountains are often interpreted as massive subterranean water sources that burst forth during the Flood, causing catastrophic geological activity, including the rapid burial of living organisms in sediment, which later became fossilized. These sources could include underwater volcanic activity, tectonic plate boundaries, or brine pools—areas of extremely saline water on the ocean floor. The presence of salt deposits in these regions suggests that these "fountains" also released significant amounts of saltwater, which mixed with sediments to preserve fossils. Many of the world's most famous fossil sites are located near these geologically active regions, supporting this connection.

Part 1: Fossil Sites Near the Fountains of the Great Deep

1. Burgess Shale, Canada

• Geological Context: The Burgess Shale is situated in the Canadian Rockies, an area formed by the collision of tectonic plates. This region is known for its tectonic activity, which have been a pathway for the release of massive amounts of water, sediment, and salt during the Flood.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic movements associated with the formation of the Rockies have opened cracks in the Earth’s crust, allowing the "fountains of the great deep" to release water, sediments, and salt, quickly burying the marine life found in this fossil bed.
• Salinity Evidence: Studies have examined the paleosalinity of the Burgess Shale environment, suggesting that the marine waters in this area had stable salinity levels. This salinity could be linked to the influx of saltwater from deep within the Earth, contributing to the unique preservation conditions seen in the fossils.

2. Morrison Formation, United States

The Morrison Formation is known for past volcanic activity.

• Geological Context: Located in the western United States, near the Rocky Mountains, the Morrison Formation is known for its rich dinosaur fossils. The region is tectonically active and has experienced significant volcanic activity, particularly in areas like Yellowstone.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The nearby volcanic and tectonic activity suggests that this region have been a site where the fountains released water, sediments, and salt, leading to the rapid burial of dinosaurs and other organisms.
• Salt Deposits: The Morrison Formation is near areas with significant salt deposits, such as the Great Salt Lake and Paradox Basin, indicating that the region has experienced substantial influxes of saline water, likely connected to deep subterranean sources.

3. Solnhofen Limestone, Germany

• Geological Context: The Solnhofen limestone is located in Bavaria, near the Alps, which have a complex tectonic history involving the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. This collision has caused cracks in the Earth’s crust, leading to the release of underground water, sediment, and salt, and the formation of fossil-bearing sediments.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic activity in the region has facilitated the sudden influx of water, sediment, and salt, burying and preserving organisms like Archaeopteryx in fine limestone.
• Salt Evidence: The Solnhofen area has a history of salt mining, indicating the presence of significant salt deposits that could be linked to ancient saltwater influxes during the formation of these fossil layers.

4. La Brea Tar Pits, United States

• Geological Context: The La Brea Tar Pits are located in Los Angeles, near the tectonically active San Andreas Fault. The region is also known for its volcanic history.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The area’s tectonic and volcanic features indicate that the release of subterranean water, sediment, and potentially salt could have trapped large mammals in the tar pits, leading to their fossilization.

5. Hell Creek Formation, United States

• Geological Context: Hell Creek Formation, situated in the central United States, is near areas of past volcanic activity and is part of the Western Interior Seaway’s sedimentary deposits.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The geological evidence suggests that the region may have experienced tectonic upheaval, allowing water, sediment, and salt to rapidly bury the dinosaurs and other creatures found in this formation.

6. Ischigualasto Formation, Argentina

• Geological Context: Located near the Andes Mountains, which were formed by the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate, this formation is known for its early dinosaur fossils.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic activity related to the Andes’ formation has created pathways for the fountains to release water, sediment, and salt, resulting in the rapid burial of organisms in this region.
• Salt Deposits: The proximity of the Ischigualasto Formation to salt flats like Salinas Grandes suggests that this region was influenced by saline water from deep within the Earth, which could have played a role in the fossilization process.

7. Chengjiang, China

• Geological Context: Chengjiang fossil site is in Yunnan province, an area known for its complex tectonic history and proximity to the Himalayan orogeny.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic forces that shaped the region have opened fissures, allowing the fountains to release water, sediment, and salt that quickly buried the early Cambrian life forms found here.
• Salinity Evidence: Research into the paleosalinity of the Chengjiang area suggests that the marine environment had stable or slightly varied salinity levels, influenced by saline water influxes from deep within the Earth. This supports the idea that the fountains of the great deep contributed to the preservation of these ancient fossils.

8. Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada

• Geological Context: Located near the Canadian Rockies, this site is rich in dinosaur fossils. The area’s proximity to the Rocky Mountains suggests it was subject to significant geological upheaval.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic activity in the region has contributed to the release of subterranean water, sediment, and salt, which, combined with sediment, buried dinosaurs in what is now one of the world’s richest fossil beds.

9. Messel Pit, Germany

• Geological Context: The Messel Pit is located in Germany, near the Rhine Rift Valley, a significant geological feature formed by tectonic activity.
• Proximity to the Fountains: The rifting and associated volcanic activity have led to the sudden burial of organisms in this area, preserving them in extraordinary detail.
• Salt Evidence: While Messel Pit is not directly associated with large salt deposits, the nearby tectonic activity suggests the possibility of ancient saline water influxes that might have influenced fossil preservation.

10. Karoo Basin, South Africa

• Geological Context: The Karoo Basin is situated in a region with a complex geological history, particularly related to the tectonic activity associated with the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. This basin is renowned for its rich fossil record from the Permian and Triassic periods, including numerous therapsids (mammal-like reptiles).
• Proximity to the Fountains: The tectonic and volcanic activities related to the breakup of Gondwana have opened pathways for the fountains of the great deep to release water, sediment, and salt into the region. These conditions have facilitated the rapid burial and exceptional preservation of organisms within the Karoo Basin.
• Salt Evidence: Recent studies on the groundwater geochemistry in the Karoo Basin reveal high salinity levels, particularly in terms of sodium and calcium concentrations. This suggests that deep-seated saline water sources have influenced the region’s hydrology. The presence of such saline conditions can be linked to ancient saltwater influxes associated with the fountains of the Great Deep, contributing to the unique conditions necessary for fossil preservation in the Karoo Basin.

Part 2: Areas with Few Fossils and Their Distance from the Fountains of the Great Deep

1. Greenland

• Geological Context: Greenland’s geology is dominated by ancient, stable Precambrian shield rock with very little recent tectonic or volcanic activity.
• Distance from the Fountains: The absence of tectonic activity suggests that Greenland was far from the "fountains of the great deep," explaining the scarcity of fossil-bearing sediments.

2. Siberia, Russia

• Geological Context: Siberia’s vast landmass is composed largely of ancient continental crust, with limited tectonic activity in recent geological history.
• Distance from the Fountains: The region’s geological stability implies it was not a major site of water, sediment, or salt release during the Flood, contributing to its sparse fossil record.

3. Kalahari Desert, Botswana

• Geological Context: The Kalahari Desert covers a large, stable part of the African continent with little tectonic or volcanic activity.
• Distance from the Fountains: Its location far from tectonic plate boundaries or volcanic regions suggests that it did not experience the significant sediment deposition required for fossilization.

4. Antarctica

• Geological Context: Antarctica’s geology is largely composed of ancient Precambrian rocks covered by thick ice, with minimal recent tectonic activity.
• Distance from the Fountains: The continent’s isolation and lack of geological activity indicate it was not a site of significant water, sediment, or salt outpouring, which is consistent with its sparse fossil record.

5. Sahara Desert, North Africa

• Geological Context: The Sahara is an ancient region with limited tectonic activity and is largely composed of eroded, stable continental crust.
• Distance from the Fountains: The desert’s geological characteristics suggest it was not near the "fountains of the great deep," which could explain the limited fossil finds in this area.

Conclusion

The relationship between famous fossil sites and their proximity to geologically active areas—interpreted as the "fountains of the great deep"—provides a framework for understanding fossil distribution from the Biblical perspective. These sites are often near tectonic plate boundaries, volcanic regions, or other areas where significant geological upheaval has facilitated the rapid burial and preservation of organisms during the Biblical Flood.

The evidence of saline conditions, as seen in regions like the Burgess Shale and Chengjiang fossil sites, further supports this model. The presence of ancient salinity indicates that the waters released during these cataclysmic events were not just ordinary floodwaters but were likely mixed with deep-seated, mineral-rich waters, contributing to the exceptional preservation of fossils.

In contrast, areas where fossils are scarce often lack these geologically active features, suggesting they were less affected by the cataclysmic processes that led to the rapid deposition and fossilization seen elsewhere. This pattern of fossil distribution supports the idea that the Earth's fossil record was shaped by a singular, catastrophic event, consistent with the account of a global flood as described in the Bible.

These findings highlight the importance of considering geological activity and the movement of deep-seated waters in explaining the fossil record, offering a perspective that aligns with the Biblical account of Earth's history.