Storm destroys Krabi's 75 million year old fossil site

[webfact]

Storm Destroys Krabi's 75 Million Year Old Fossil Site
By Khaosod English



KRABI — Raging waves in southern Thailand have accelerated the destruction of a prominent fossil site in Krabi province, causing parts of the fossil bed to collapse into the sea.

Known to the Thais as "Shell Cemetery,” the popular attraction in Ban Laempho district consists of large slabs of stone formed by layers of fossilized shells and other organic substances.

State archaeologists say the fossils were formed 75 million years ago and only two other similar fossil beds can found elsewhere in the world, in the United States and Japan.

According to park official Mr. Somporn Krupching, the fossil bed has been slowly eroded by waves, but heavy storm conditions over the past five days have accelerated the damage considerably. A few centimeters of the plate have sunk into the sea, while the base of the fossil bed has been hollowed out by the onslaught of waves.

Visitors are now barred from walking to the end of the fossil plate, which extends 50 metres into the ocean, in order to protect the hollowed bed from collapsing.

Mr. Somporn said he wants the Department of Mineral Resources to come inspect the fossil bed and craft plans to protect the iconic site.

Fierce weather along the southern coast of Thailand this week has damaged hundreds of buildings and beach resorts in other popular tourist destinations as well.

"These are the biggest waves we have seen in 10 years," said Se Komkla, manager of a resort on Bang Nian beach​ in Pha Ngan.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1403010351&section=14


-- Khaosod English 2014-06-18

[pgrahmm]

A shame - we were there last week and didn't see this - now it might no longer be there to see on the next visit after 75,000,000 years....

[phuketrichard]

sad

always enjoyed stopping off there

[skorchio]

Yes I went there before, but as a geologist I am surprised there is anything special or unique about it, I have seen many similar examples in the field as a student. I will google to see if I can find out why it is supposed to be so special .....

And I would suggest to the Thai Geological Society, if it is really so special, get down there and recover the pieces which have detached from the bed.

[keestha]

Have been there twice, with two decades in between the two visits. There was nothing much so see anyway, the fossilized shell masses looked like slabs of concrete. But I am very sorry for all the people making a living there, selling food/drinks/souvenirs to Thai and foreign tourists.

[thumper101]

Have been there twice, with two decades in between the two visits. There was nothing much so see anyway, the fossilized shell masses looked like slabs of concrete. But I am very sorry for all the people making a living there, selling food/drinks/souvenirs to Thai and foreign tourists.

They may well have been slabs of concrete with shells embedded in them by hand. It won't be the first time I have come across a fake tourist attraction such as so called 4000 year old cave paintings that in contrast to cave paintings I have seen in France, UK etc.... are completely new in appearance.

I am talking what is supposed to be ocra hand prints look more like TOA special offer red vinyl silk emulsion. The cave flood out completely during the monsoons.... no way a cave painting can preserve that long, especiallywithout fading one bit.

But hey... this is Thailand and we are farang with cash on the hip.

Edited June 18, 2014 by thumper101

[PETERTHEEATER]

Don't worry about it anymore. The headline is clear. It has been destroyed. No use crying after spilled milk.

[ableguy]

never mind plenty more fossils in Pataya.

[chris2004]

They still charge 200 baht to see what's left. I passed.

[LivinginKata]

They still charge 200 baht to see what's left. I passed.

Thai entrepreneurs at their best Love it

[JDGRUEN]

I have visited two rock quarries and one construction excavation site in Ao Nang... there is a layer of dark gray shale that flakes into thin slabs... I have examined a lot of this rock and I am puzzled that no marine fossils appear. I have experience with similar shale in Arkansas and Texas USA and often found fossil imprints of plants and even casts of marines animals along with fossilized tissue. I am trying to figure out what the difference is with the Krabi area limestone...

To the best of my knowledge, limestone is made from the laying down of countless miniature calcium base skeletons of animal plankton the size of a pin head. With such an enormous amount of animal plankton required to make up the Krabi ... Ao Nang area the abundance of animal plankton would have to have been a long standing food source for plankton grazers ... with the creation of a whole chain of creators ... ???