In August 2014, my parents visited Mesa Verde National Park in the state of Colorado, USA. I have just now started reviewing some of the pictures they brought back from that trip. They brought back a geology book listed in the reference section of this posting.
The picture above is of a fossil on display at the visitors center. It is of an unidentified Cretaceous dinosaur.
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.
