GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

12-03-2006, 11:34 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 12/3/06 23:26, in article ,
"Dave Poole" wrote:

Sacha wrote:

The answer is that all were formed from the shells of diatoms,
shellfish etc.snip

It's both interesting and strange to go to Les Baux in Provence and see
limpet shells in this very high, mountainous village.

As a kid, I was fascinated to see the fossil shells (ammonites etc.)
in the limestone walls surrounding Dudley Castle. The stone was
locally quarried and formed under the warm, tropical seas that covered
the region during the Silurian period well over 400 million years ago.
I also found it strange to see what were to all intents and purposes;
sea shells on the top of one of the highest hills in the area. Its
all to do with the earth folding and pushing upwards as tectonic
plates move about. I'm told you can find similar on Everest - now
that is some distance from any sea bed!

I'll take your word for that. Even though I did meet Sherpa Tenzing on a
week end visit to a friend in Surrey. Makes me wish I'd thought to ask him
more searching questions!
Les Baux is wonderful, IMO and I loved it but I really was fascinated by
these darned limpet shells. They were in so many bits of rock, steps, walls
etc.
--
Sacha