Billion Year Old Kentucky Basement Rock Sample

A test well drilling in Hancock County, Kentucky brought to the surface a red sandstone sample that could be a billion years old. A sample was retrieved from the "basement rock" at 2447 meters.

Rick Bowersox from the Kentucky Geological Survey is studying whether the layer this rock was extracted can be used to store carbon dioxide. The idea is to store carbon dioxide produce by modern energy production and store it underground in less dense rock. This sample is apparently too dense to for that type of storage. Mr. Bowersox is also trying to determine how this rock formed and what the climate was like in an age long ago.

This particular core sample was thought to be formed by erosion of northern Kentucky mountains composed mostly of granite. It is not expected that any fossils will be found in the core samples at that depth.

Find out more and see a picture of the sample at Lexington Herald-Leader website: www.kentucky.com/news/local/story/913600.html

According to the article, "The carbon dioxide was injected in the Knox dolomite formation between 3,800 and 7,400 feet. Scientists figure that overlying impermeable rock formations and natural pressure will hold the carbon forever." The well will be monitored for up to 3 years to see if any carbon dioxide dissipates.

Dawsonoceras Cephalopod

These pictures show a Silurian Period Dawsonoceras cephalopod (ID guess on my part) in a meeting room display case at the Cincinnati Museum Geier Collection Center. I am guessing the fossil was 40 cm in length. Also note the coiled cephalopods in the case with it.



 
Dawsonoceras Classified:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Cephalopoda
Subclass: Orthoceratoidea
Order: Orthocerida
Family: Dawsonceratidae