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Comment by tempguy9999 | Hacker News Reader

> folks from the Electric Universe paradigm have an alternative model

Sigh. Go on then. Don't tell us it exists, provide a link.

I apologize. Here http://www.eu-geology.com/?page_id=192 and https://www.google.com/search?q=electric%20universe%20mounta...

"How could the process of fossilization [of sand dunes into mountains] be imagined? A dune of loose conglomerate can not simply sink into the earth, be transformed by penetrating liquid magma, and come back to the surface as rock, while the typical dune structure and shape is maintained. The process of fossilization must therefore take place at the surface and it must happen quickly. This is where electricity comes into play. On one hand there is the possibility of melting and solidification, when electricity is introduced through the top of the mountain. On the other hand, it may be a direct electrical conversion. Experiments [Steinbacher 2011, 586] have shown that it is entirely possible to transform dust and soil electrically into different types of rocks. The process first melts the material mixture. Then crystals of different size and composition form. Upon further exposure to electricity, they begin to melt itself. Essential parameters are the composition of the material, current and voltage, and the exposure time."

That's terrifying.

> The process of fossilization must therefore take place at the surface and it must happen quickly.

> Essential parameters are the composition of the material, current and voltage, and the exposure time.

Is this all trying to say that mountains are just fossilized sand? That is certainly a .. novel... theory of geology.

Fossilization of organic matter generally takes about 10k years, give or take. Fossil is a word that tends to encompass a lot of things though, so it depends.

Still, the amps that you'd have to pump through a dune to get it all to melt/solidify would be astonishing. Think a constant lightening bolt for years on end. Most sands are insulators afterall.

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