Great Smoky Fossils

Introduction

In this week’s lab assignment, we are to do some independent research on a geologic topic that interests us. From there we are to create a list of questions that we would like to know more about. Then, we are to select a government agency professional, a business professional, a professor, a local geologist/astronomer/miner or a legislator who deals with some aspect of our topic and set up an interview with him or her to discuss our questions. Afterwards, we are to write up our experience while responding to several questions posed in the lab assignment. This paper and responses are the result of the research and interview process.

East Tennessee

More than once in this class and lab I have brought up the importance of the Great Smoky Mountains. These mountains have such an influence on the region that they are hard to overlook. While there is the seemingly obvious topics of commerce and tourism there may be more to this mountain range than meets the eye. Since childhood, I have always been fascinated with fossils. I have always found it incredibly cool that the Earth has a means of preserving a piece of its history in rock for future generations to find, study and understand. While commerce and tourism are the obvious influences these mountains have on the region, I was more interested if anything was lying beneath the surface waiting for discovery and research.

Subject

The area I live in, originally conceived and built as a retirement community, no longer caters to retirement age residents. In recent years, younger families have discovered the area. Younger families are moving into the community because of what it offers. As a result, it is not uncommon to have very young families and retirees as neig...

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...ologic topic that interests me. From there I was to create a list of questions that we would like to know more about. Then, we are to select a government agency professional, a business professional, a professor, a local geologist/astronomer/miner or a legislator who deals with some aspect of my topic and set up an interview with him or her to discuss my questions. Afterwards, I was to write up my experience while responding to several questions posed in the lab assignment. This paper and responses are the result of the research and interview process.

References

Repetski, J. (n.d.). Inventory of Paleozoic fossils in Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. Retrieved from http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/paleontology/pub/grd3_3/grsm1.htm

Zhen, Y. (2009). What are conodonts? Retrieved from http://australianmuseum.net.au/What-are-conodonts