Fossils Prove Henan's Southern Taihang Mountain Was an Ocean in Remote Antiquity

Fossils Prove Henan's Southern Taihang Mountain Was an Ocean in Remote Antiquity

河南南太行区域在远古时期是海洋，这些化石是实物证据

 

Can you imagine that today's lofty southern Taihang Mountain was totally "swallowed" by the vast ocean in times of remote antiquity?

南太行区域高山巍峨，谁能想到，远古时期却是汪洋大海。

 

On December 13, an experienced fossil collector showed us his collections which have proved such a statement.

12月13日，焦作市一位资深化石爱好者向记者展示藏品，让这个“沧海桑田”的论断得到了佐证。

Fossil collected by Wang Deshun. [Photo/Dahe Daily]

Wang Deshun, retired from Jiaozuo Coal (Group) Co., Ltd., is 58 years old now and is living in Shiyuan village of Xicun town, Jiaozuo city, Henan province. Since the village is located in the southern Taihang Mountain, he has fostered a special affection for the mountain. Over the years, Wang Deshun has collected some two thousand fossils of different kinds from the southern Taihang Mountain.

今年58岁的王德顺是焦煤集团退休职工，家住焦作市修武县西村乡柿园村。因村子地处南太行山区，王德顺自幼对大山就有独特的感情，多年来更是不断走访探查，采集了一两千枚南太行区域的各种化石。

 

On the afternoon, Wang Deshun showed his collections to us, including many fossils exclusive to the southern Taihang Mountain, such as the fossilized cephalopods, gastropods, brachiopods, coelenterates, plants, etc., which witnessed the geological and geomorphic changes of the southern Taihang Mountain.

当天下午，王德顺展示了他收藏的化石，化石有头足类、腹足类、腕足类、腔肠类、植物类等多种南太行特有的化石，这些化石见证了南太行的地质地貌变迁。

Fossil collected by Wang Deshun. [Photo/Dahe Daily]

 

On December 15, Dr. Niu Yongbin, an associate professor at Henan Polytechnic University, told us that he has visited Wang Shunde many times, his collections can be identified as the fossilized marine lives mainly in Ordovician and Carboniferous periods -- physical evidence proving that today's lofty southern Taihang Mountain was an ocean in times of remote antiquity and reflecting the environment changes in such a region to some extent.

12月15日，河南理工大学资源环境学院博士、副教授，《沉积学报》青年编委、《河南理工大学学报（自然科学版）》特约编委牛永斌受访时说，王德顺采集的化石，他曾多次前往探访交流，可以证实是生存在多个远古时期的古生物化石，主要是奥陶纪、石炭纪海洋生物化石，是南太行区域在远古时期是海洋的实物证据，也在一定程度上说明了南太行区域的古生态环境变迁。

Fossil collected by Wang Deshun. [Photo/Dahe Daily]

"It's hard to find fossils now, mainly relying on luck. Quarrying was a common business in this area in the past, so it was easier to find fossils, but today, it is harder." Wang Deshun told us that in the future, he hopes to open a science center to better show his collections to the public.

“采集化石，非常不容易，可遇不可求，以前太行山开山采石多，化石暴露也多，现在越来越难见到了。”王德顺说，未来，他希望将自己采集的这些化石办成一个正规的科普场馆，向社会开放。（中文来源/大河报·豫视频 记者/李岩 编译/赵汉青 王家琦 海报/王君艺 审校/李文竞）