A published letter by Kurt Wise

Dear Editor,
Regarding your Focus article, "Human Bones in Coal?" (CEN 14(2):8). This
Focus article is extracted uncritically from a SCIENCE FRONTIERS article
[a clearing house of weird published pieces related to science - Ed.],
which in turn is based uncriticaly upon a NEWSPAPER article.
     The `human bones' to which the article refers are probably a
portion of the material collected by newspaper man Ed Conrad of
Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.
     A few years ago Ed sent me about a dozen pieces that he was
convinced were `mammalian bone.' Sectioning and microscopic analysis of
the two specimens he claimed to be the best among them revealed no
evidence that either was bone - or even that they were fossil material
of any sort. Internal structures were consistent with inorganic
precipitation processes, and chemical analysis and external form were
consistent with them merely being iron siderite concretions. Such
conretions are found associationed with coals in many parts of the
world. 
     Judging from the specimens that I was able to examine, and pictures
of others, the external form of the specimens bear only superficial
resemblances to mammalian bone. Though I have not seen all of Conrad's
specimens, I suggest that his material be considered with the greatest
caution. It is very possible that most, if not all, his material is
inorganically precipitated iron siderite nodules and not fossil material
at all
     Kurt P. Wise, Ph.D., Prof. of Science, Bryan College, Tennessee.

    [We appreciate the comments of well-known creation scientist Dr.
Wise. Our Focus items are a round-up of what has been reported -
obviously we cannot check the accuracy of all the original reports. -
Editor, CREATION EX NIHILO]