Monday, March 30, 2015

Collignoniceras woollgari Ammonite Fossil


This Collignoniceras woollgari juvenile ammonite fossil is on display at the Mesa Verde National Park as of August 2014. The ammonite existed in the Late Cretaceous Period (Campanian).

The area is rich in geological history going back 2 billion years. The national park was founded in 1906 to protect the Anasazi Native American sites found on the mesa tops, cliffs, and canyons. The exposed areas found in the park are from the Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period (about 100-78 million years ago). They make up four formations: Cliff House, Menefee, Point Lookout, and Mancos.

Reference:
Guide to the Geology of Mesa Verde National Park by Mary O. Griffitts, 1990, ISBN 0-937062-11-1
Available at amazon.com at this web link.

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Prionocyclus macombi Ammonite Fossil

This Prionocyclus macombi (Meek, 1876) ammonite fossil is on display at the Mesa Verde National Park as of August 2014. The ammonite existed in the Late Cretaceous Period (Campanian).

The area is rich in geological history going back 2 billion years. The national park was founded in 1906 to protect the Anasazi Native American sites found on the mesa tops, cliffs, and canyons. The exposed areas found in the park are from the Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period (about 100-78 million years ago). They make up four formations: Cliff House, Menefee, Point Lookout, and Mancos.

Reference:
Guide to the Geology of Mesa Verde National Park by Mary O. Griffitts, 1990, ISBN 0-937062-11-1
Available at amazon.com at this web link.

Monday, March 16, 2015

T-rex at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport


A colleague of mine recently returned from a vacation to Montana.When he was showing me pictures from his trip I found the one shown in this post intriguing. It turns out this Tyrannosaurus rex fossil replica is on display at the baggage display area of  Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport of Belgrade, Montana. Montana is the source of many dinosaur fossils so it seems fitting they chose this replica to represent an aspect of Montana geological past.

This dinosaur existed in the upper Cretaceous Period (68-66 million years ago; Maastrichtian). Learn more at Wikipedia.

Thanks to Ryan for the picture.

Find a T-rex replica on Amazon.com.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Endocostea simpsoni Clam Fossil from Colorado


This Endocostea simpsoni inoceramid clam fossil is on display at the Mesa Verde National Park as of August 2014. The clam existed in the Late Cretaceous Period (Campanian).

The area is rich in geological history going back 2 billion years. The national park was founded in 1906 to protect the Anasazi Native American sites found on the mesa tops, cliffs, and canyons. The exposed areas found in the park are from the Mesozoic Era, Cretaceous Period (about 100-78 million years ago). They make up four formations: Cliff House, Menefee, Point Lookout, and Mancos.

Reference:
Guide to the Geology of Mesa Verde National Park by Mary O. Griffitts, 1990, ISBN 0-937062-11-1
Available at amazon.com at this web link.