'Life ended on earth following massive volcano'

30 May,2009 05:17 PM IST |   |  PTI

Life ended on earth following massive volcano: Geologist


Geologists claimed to have solved the mystery looming over the mass extinction of living creators on the earth 260 million years ago, saying the life ended on the planet due to massive volcano.
The scientists at the University of Leeds claimed to have discovered a fossil which indicates an environmental disaster caused by a giant volcano.
"The abrupt extinction of marine life we can clearly see in the fossil record firmly links giant volcanic eruptions with global environmental catastrophe, a correlation that has often been controversial," said Palaeontologist Paul Wignall of the University of Leeds.
The scientists were able to pinpoint the exact timing of the catastrophe because the lava appears now as a distinctive layer of igneous rock formed from magma sandwiched between sedimentary rock containing easily datable fossilised marine life, 'The Telegraph reported.
"When fast flowing, low viscosity magma meets shallow sea it's like throwing water into a chip pan there's spectacular explosion producing gigantic clouds of steam," said Wignall whose paper was published in the 'Science'.

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earth life massive volcano University of Leeds