I am glad that you are willing to experiment in order to determine how
suspended solids will precipitate under varying conditions. May I suggest
a somewhat more complex series of experiments to parallel what is
observed stratigraphically. Though I am not a geologist, I understand
that one may find, in various parts of the world, claystones, siltstones,
limestones, sandstones and conglomerates in various
combinations--limestones above or below sandstones, with conglomerates
above, below or between them, etc. I think that flood geology can be
given a boost by producing such sorting on a small scale.
The smallest scale would call for a jar, but a larger scale with control
of more variables would require a circular trough. In the latter, one may
place baffles of different sizes and use various means to produce motion
of the particle-laden fluid far beyond what is possible with a jar.
Depending on whether a short term experiment or a long term one is
chosen, one may go to the kitchen or search more widely for materials.
Choose three or four materials that have approximately the same density
(I think the components of the various rocks fall into a narrow range)
from flour, yellow corn meal, green split peas, navy beans, etc.,
preferably so that they can be easily differentiated by color as well as
texture; or clay, precipitated gypsum or chalk, silt, fine sand, coarse
sand (Painted Desert ?), fine gravel, etc. Add water (amount may be
varied) and mix thoroughly. Then shake, swirl, vibrate, etc., with any
intensity in any sequence, as they settle to produce all the possible
orders. There are six if three materials are chosen; 24 if four. The
latter, of course, would require a great deal of work. One might want to
start with just two materials, like corn meal and peas, large enough to
settle fairly quickly, and get both AB and BA orders. That, of course,
would not be as convincing as either 6 or 24. Of course, two layers of
clay or other material in a single trial would really be a _tour de
force_. One could go on to incorporate "fossils" in some of the layers.
The series is open-ended.
Dave
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