Origin of Laramide uplift hits the popular press. Why? – crustal hydration

Denver Skyline coutesy of Matt Santomarco (www.santomarco.com)

In a recent report by AP writer, Dan Elliott,  another theory is  ‘floated’ (pun intended) on why Denver and other areas of the Rockies and High Plains sit at a higher elevation than is predicted by our current understanding of plate tectonics. CU -Boulder geologists Craig Jones and Kevin Mahan attribute the 65 million-year rise from sea level to abundant water incorporated into the descending Farallon Plate that then rose into overlying crustal rocks giving them more buyoancy.  What makes this article so interesting is how this made the popular press in the absence of a geologic disaster or debate over energy extraction.  http://t.usnews.com/Z7mnxd  via @usnews
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