Fun Fact #280 Fire and Water

 Fun Fact# 280

Fire and Water

While the US was still an infant in its cradle, a Schism was brewing that would rock the world to its core. This debate was on the formation of rocks in the burgeoning field of Geology. Led by Abraham Werner, The Neptunists believed the world’s land masses had formed from sediment when it settled in water. It was a nice sediment, but was directly opposed by the Vulcunists who believed burning fields of coal drove enormous tectonic plates which formed new rock with hardened lava. This debate rocked universities with arguments, fights and resulted in very confusing maps –particularly in areas which used both forms of rock formation such as the Blue Mounds in Wisconsin. However even though Neptunism would Initially win, another theory was rising to erode this titan of theory. 

image from The Alzheimer Society of Manitoba