ANCIENT TREES UNDER LAKE BED

Chronicle (Levin), 24 December 1946, Page 3

ANCIENT TREES UNDER LAKE BED

! Tree stuiups fouud early this year 37ft below the former bed of LaktKimihia during eJteavationa for L1k* open-eaat mine have been proved b,\ the Dominiou Aluseuin to be matai Some time was takou in determining wliat type of timber it was, and ofticiaK at Kimihia have not yet heard wha* age tlie wood is. It is known from examinal ion of tlie stumps tliat tln disturbanees wliich eovered them were eompartively reccut, measured in terms of gcological ehanges. Before the open-east mine develop meut -work started, tlie tree were 42 fi below tlie level of the waters of the lake. Tlie lako has now been forccd baek as mucli as half a milc from its original norlhern shore, and tlie excavation was made from its drieU bed. The liand of humus earth from whicli the stumps protruded runa about (5f' almve tlie eoal uneovered by the ex cavaTiou. On top of the humus soil was a layer 12ft liigh of piimiee, whicli is believed to have inuudated the fcrtile soil in an eruption.' IMie remainder of I the 37ft liigh t'aee; tvas clay, whicli was probably washetT'do'wii laier from the surrounding liills after the lake formed — — jj , j' -j. V ; i x . — ; r. - ■