The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-29
CRETACEOUS FLORA
FOUND IN ALASKA
Surprising Discovery Made
by Geological Survey.
DISTURBS FORMER THEORIES
Second Expedition Sent to Interior Of
Territory to Confederate Col
lections of First.


logical Survey that spent the summer
OF 1903 in Alaska brought back a col
lection Of fossils. from strata exposed
along the Yukon p Yer that is likely 10
disturb all previous theories concerning
the geologic history of that region.
The plant-bearing sandstones from this
locality have been referred to the Arctic
MiOcene and coal from them has been
uniformity ciassed as Tertiary I'm age.
W ale Arthur J. Collier. assistant geol-
ogist of the Survey. was studying the
coal resources Of the Yukon in the sum-
nner Of 1902 he collected many specimens
form the coal fields he visited. On his
return To Washington these were turned
over to the paleontologists and pale
obOtanists to the Survey. who found. TO
their amazament. that many Of the ros.
si plants presented for identification
were Of undoubted Cretaceous age ratn-
er than Tertiary.
In some cases. the Cretaceous forms
We're associated in the collection with
forms heretofore regarded as Tertiary.
As it was considered possible that speci-
mems from two horizons might have
been confused. a second expedition was
sent ia 1903 to the same field TO obtain
additional paleobOtanical and paleonto-
logical evidences of the age OF Yukon
coal
Second Expedition.
DIR. c. Arthur Hollick. assistant geol-
ogist. and Sidney Paige. field assistant.
constituted this second party. A pre-
hminary report on DR.. Hollick's coHec-
ton Of fossil plants has now been made
by +. n. knOwltOn. paleObotanist OF the
Survey. 1t is interesting TO note that
his study of the two collections has
convinced him that the second one
corrOborates the differences drawn from
the first and establishes the broad fact
that the coal from abOve Rampart IS
wholly Tertiary. while most of that
1rom below Rampant IS undoubtedly
Cretaceous. and the age Of some is still
~ doubt IL Is at Rampant. too. that
the structural break seems to occur
The question has some economic bear
ing, as the Cretaceous coal being
older, is likely to be better and the
discovery OF a satisfactory coal Supply
would be boon TO that barren inland
country. but the main consideration is
theoretical, affecting the accepted ideas
OF geologic succession In Alaska.
Trees of Alaska.
The common trees OF Alaska at pres
ent are spruce. cottonwood. Quaking
asp. willow. birch. alder and Iarch.
The characteristic flora Of the Tertiary,
age. as revealed I'm the fossils of that
plants that indicate. a milder climate
than thar which now distinguishes the
Arctic Circle. The best known Of them
were the seQuOia. poplar, oak, hickory,
hazel beech. cottonwood. cedar. and
several species OF conifers now extinct.
In the still more remote CretaceOus
period the vegetation was of a type dis
tinctly more tropical. suggesting the
prevalence of a warmer and more humid
atmosphere at that time The charac-
ra~NHr Of a
sequoia, ginkgo, plane, pine. fig, mag
nolia. cinnamon, maple. laurel. and va
fious kinds OF cycads. resembling the
palms, which are now extinct except
n the tropics. The study of these sew
e-al fioras must furnish the key to the
problem Of the place in the geologic
column occupied by these Alaskan for
nations.
The Fossil Plants.
Specimens OF fossil plants brought by
Mr. Collier I'm 1902 from the right bank
OF the Yukon. below Melozikakat. and
similar specimens procured by Or. Hol
lick in 1903 al the same place, have set
tied the problem in the minds Of Mr.
KnOwlton and the other paleontologist.
OF the Survey This particular fors
indicates beyond question that the age
OF the coal beds is approximately early
upper CretaceOus.
II vas Mr. Golfers specimens from
this place that threw suspicion on nj:
collection and made the paleOntologists
wonder il two horizons had been mixed
especially when they learned that mons
OF the material was found In place Dr
HOiliCk was instructed to pay especia
attention 10 this point. He was unable
TO find anything absolutely in place. bu
ne is satisfied. as was Mr.. Collier. tina
only one ~ rizon Is represented.
Surprise to Scientists.
The discovery Of an undoubted Creta
ceous fora in the interior Of Alasks
comes as great surprise to the paleon
tologists. Beyond the Jura-Cretaceuo'
fora from the vicinity Of Cape Lisburne
no Cretaceous flora was known from an!
part OF Alaska previous 10 Mr.. Collier
collection from Yukon.
At some OF the localities represented
by his specimens and DR.. Hollicks Their
& a emarka bic association OF cyadS ant
dicotyledOns. unlike anything previOusl
known In North America. An interest
ing parallel Is found, however. In BOhe
mia where the conditions are precisel!
similar 10 those in Alaska. The Bone
milan formations are regarded as ap
iproximately Of Cenomanian age, tn
beds being found in the lower part o