Transcript Florissant Fossil Beds, Colorado

Florissant Fossil
Beds, Colorado
A National Monument
"When the mountains are overthrown and
the seas uplifted, the universe at Florissant
flings itself against a gnat and preserves
it."-- Dr. Peale, Hayden Expedition
Geologist, 1873.
Overview
Just west of Pike’s Peak in Colorado is
Florissant fossil beads.
 Huge petrified Red
Woods, sequoias,
and detailed fossils
of ancient insects
and plants hold key
to prehistoric life of almost 35 million years
ago.
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History
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Enormous volcanic eruptions encompassed the
then flourishing valley leaving the giant tree
stumps petrified.
A valley was created and at its bottom, in layers
of shale,
minute details of
ancient organisms
were preserved.
Petrifying Process
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A series of ancient systems with multiple vents
buried parts of ancient mixed forest floor in
volcanic mud flow.
The volcanic mud coated the bottom 15 feet of
the large Redwood trees.
As minerals oozed into the wood and gradually
crystallized the still living tree.
Later in time, another mud flow closed a
stream, creating ancient Lake Florissant.
Comparison of Modern and
Petrified
Petrifying Continued…
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The ashes from the volcano
covered the land and turned
into clay at the bottom of
the lake.
The clay became a perfect
medium preserving
countless leaves and insects.
They were buried under
more ash and preserve amid
layers of shale.
Fossilized Plants
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Over 100 species have been found fossilized
Preserved as life-sized with
incredible detail & color
Most common are fossilized leaves but twigs, seeds,
cones, flowers, and even delicate pollen grains
Most common fossilized tree is the sequoia
Fossilized Insects
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Rarely are insects preserved
at all, let alone in great
detail
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Here more than 1,000
species have been
identified from the shale
of Lake Florissant
Fossilized Animals
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Fossilized bones, teeth,
shells, hair, & feather
impressions
These reveal existence of
mollusks, fish, birds,
possums, mesohippus, and
oreodonts
Not as many animal fossils
were found because to be
preserved it would have to
have died in or near the lake
References
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http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/flfo
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http://www.nps.gov/flfo/education/unit2.htm