Brownstown, Arkansas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brownstown
|
|
|---|---|
 Brownstown, Arkansas
Location in Arkansas
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Arkansas |
| County | Sevier |
| Elevation | 423 ft (129 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
71846
|
Brownstown is a small town located in Sevier County, Arkansas, in the United States. It's found to the east of another town called Ben Lomond. Even though it's a small place, Brownstown is quite interesting because of the unique rocks found beneath it!
Discovering Brownstown's Geology
Brownstown is famous among geologists because of a special type of rock found there. This rock layer is known as the Brownstown Marl. It's actually named after the town itself!
What is Marl?
Marl is a type of soft rock or soil. It is usually made up of a mix of clay and calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is the same stuff that makes up seashells and chalk. Marl often forms in freshwater or saltwater environments. It can be found at the bottom of lakes, lagoons, or shallow seas.
The Brownstown Marl Formation
The Brownstown Marl is a very old rock formation. It was formed millions of years ago during a time called the Late Cretaceous period. This was the very end of the age of dinosaurs! At that time, much of Arkansas was covered by a shallow sea.
- The Brownstown Marl formed from sediments that settled at the bottom of this ancient sea.
- It contains fossils of marine life, like tiny sea creatures and shells.
- Scientists study the Brownstown Marl to learn about what the Earth was like long ago.
- It helps them understand ancient climates and the types of animals that lived in the seas.
So, while Brownstown might seem like a quiet town, it holds a fascinating secret deep underground. It's a window into Earth's ancient past!
