On May 13, 2010, two French geologists, Doctor Sylvie Crasquin and Doctorante Marie-Beatrice Forel visited Fengshan. There visit was on behalf of the (French) Pierre & Marie Curie University and they were in Fengshan to explore a site called Laren, in Jinya, Fengshan. Fengshan is situated in the middle of the Leye-Fengshan Geo-park. The Geologists were working under the guidance of a TV program about places of world geological importance. They ranked this small rock band among the most important of all worldwide geological sites; because it offers a unique glimpse into the past that can seldom be observed else where. This mysterious episode in the history of our planet is known to geologists as the “permo-trias life extinction.”

The greatest extinction of living species occurred about 250 million years ago. To find-out the causes of this is the purpose of the most active geological research around the world. The research examines several factors including: volcanic activity and climatic disturbance. It is estimated that 95% of the marine species and 70% of the terrestrial species disappeared during this time. This history is recorded in the sedimentary layers located at the end of Permian and the beginning of Triassic.

On the site of Laren, all the strata concerning this event are visible. It is also' the only currently known site to observe, in the layers succeeding the extinction, some fossils of microbialites. This is the first documented proof of life identified after the extinction. It is for this reason at Laren, in Leye-Fengshan Geo-park, is the best place in the world to study the very first known phases of the recovery after extinction.

Thanks to Jean Bottazzi for providing this information and translating it form French.

Photos coming soon.