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A fossil is an impression, cast, What is a fossil? Back to Explore A fossil is an impression, cast, original material or track of any animal or plant that is preserved in rock after the original organic material is transformed or removed.

A fossil may be: an original skeleton or shell; a mold or cast; material that has replaced the once living thing; traces such as footprints or worm tubes

What conditions promote fossilization? Back to Explore Hard body parts such as skeletal bones or exoskeletons

What conditions promote fossilization? Rapid burial and/or lack of oxygen

What are the fossil types? Body fossils – actual parts of an organism, unaltered or altered bones, shells, leaf imprints Trace fossils – evidence of life that is not a body fossil tracks, burrows, casts

Body fossils

Trace Fossils

What are the modes of fossil preservation for body fossils? Unaltered Original Material - original, unaltered material from the living organism unaltered bone or shell Encrustations or entombments – material is trapped inside coating such as amber

What are the modes of fossil preservation? Altered Permineralization – pores in tissue are filled by minerals Replacement – replacement of tissue with minerals

What are the modes of fossil preservation for body fossils? Altered Carbonization – tissue material is decomposed or reduced to a film of carbon

More on trace fossils Mold – reproduction of the inside or outside surface of a living thing Cast – duplicate of the original organism; usually formed by replacement of inside of living thing

More on trace fossils Burrows or borings – Spaces dug out by living things and preserved as is or filled in

More on trace fossils Gastroliths – smooth stones from abdominal cavity of dinosaurs Coprolites – fossilized excrement; usually preserved by replacement

More on trace fossils Tracks – impressions of passage of living things

Fossils in Utah Where are they? (PUSH ENTER)

Click on a star to find information about fossils found in this area.

Millard County TRILOBITES Back to Utah Map TRILOBITES Trilobites are extinct marine (water) animals that existed 550 million to around 300 million years ago in the seas that once covered Utah. They are related to crustaceans of today such as crabs and lobsters. There are many kinds of trilobites found all over the world. Trilobites were easily fossilized because as they died, their bodies settled to the sea bottom where they were covered by layer after layer of new soil.

Emery County Allosaurus Back to Utah Map Allosaurus Of the bones taken out of Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, about three-quarters belong to the meat-eater Allosaurus. This predator has sharp claws, strong jaws and sharp teeth.

Emery County Stegosaurus Back to Utah Map Stegosaurus The STEGOSAURUS was a dinosaur from the Jurassic period (about 200 million years ago). You can recognize it by the bony plates that run down the neck and back. It had a small head with a walnut-sized brain (the same as a kitten)! The stegosaurus was a plant eater. The bones of the Stegosaurus are found throughout the Cleveland-Lloyd quarry, but especially in "Stegosaurus Corner" where four skeletons were discovered.

Emery County Camarasaurus Back to Utah Map Camarasaurus CAMARASAURUS means "chambered lizard" because of the hollow chambers in its backbones. This made it lighter, so the Camarasaurus could move easily. These plant-eaters grew larger than the quarry building.

Uintah County Allosaurus Back to Utah Map Allosaurus This predator has sharp claws, strong jaws and sharp teeth. It is from the late Jurassic period. The ALLOSAURUS is Utah’s State Fossil. Marshosaurus Marshosaurus is small, rare theropod (beast footed). It is a carnivore that reached lengths up to 16 feet and was named after O.C. Marsh, a famous paleontologist from the 1800s.

Uintah County Camarasaurus Back to Utah Map Camarasaurus CAMARASAURUS means "chambered lizard" because of the hollow chambers in its backbones. This made it lighter, so the Camarasaurus could move easily. These dinosaurs reached lengths of 50 feet! Camarasaurus walked on all fours, but could rear up on its hind legs to reach high trees to feed with its strong, spoon shaped teeth.

Grand County Utahraptor Back to Utah Map UTAHRAPTOR was discovered in 1991 by Dr. Jim Kirkland in a desert near Moab, Utah. It was a meat-eater and used its large, razor-sharp claws to cut into its prey. Its build shows it was a speedy predator, and evidence suggests that it was pack hunter. Like other meat-eating dinosaurs, raptors walked on two legs. Claw Utahraptor Skull Claw

Summit County SABER TOOTHED CAT Back to Utah Map SABER TOOTHED CAT The SABER-TOOTHED CAT fossil was found near Park City. It is an extinct ice age animal.

Iron County Back to Utah Map OYSTERS A shallow sea entered this area from the east about 190-160 million years ago. There are several layers of limestone here made almost entirely of shells and shell pieces.

Box Elder County TRILOBITES Back to Utah Map TRILOBITES Trilobites are extinct marine (water) animals that existed 550 million to around 300 million years ago in the seas that once covered Utah. They are related to crustaceans of today such as crabs and lobsters. There are many different kinds of trilobites found all over the world. Trilobites were easily fossilized because as they died their bodies settled to the sea bottom where they were covered by layer after layer of new soil deposits.

Crinoid Tooele County Back to Utah Map About 350 million years ago, warm shallow seas rich with life covered most of Utah. West of Salt Lake in Tooele County, fossils of crinoids or sea lilies, two-valved seashells (brachiopods) and coral are found. Brachiopod Crinoid Stems Horn Coral

Wayne County PETRIFIED WOOD Back to Utah Map PETRIFIED WOOD PETRIFIED WOOD and agate have been found by Capitol Reef National Park. Petrified wood is a fossil in which the organic material has been replaced by minerals during the fossilization process.

Sanpete County HUNTINGTON MAMMOTH Back to Utah Map HUNTINGTON MAMMOTH The HUNTINGTON MAMMOTH was found in 1988 by people working on a dam. It is an ice age animal. The skeleton was 90% complete. The Huntington mammoth lived about 10,500 years ago. Tooth wear and arthritis in its bones tells us it was a very old mammoth. Scientists could tell what its last meal was!

Garfield County Stegosaurus Back to Utah Map Stegosaurus The stegosaurus was a dinosaur from the Jurassic period (about 195 million years ago) and has been found in several places in Utah. You can recognize it by the bony plates that run down the neck and back. It had a small head with a walnut-sized brain (the same as a kitten)! The stegosaurus was a plant eater.

Calendar Click below to view the calendar of fossil activities

Warning! Using MS WORD, write a letter to an extinct animal (maybe a dinosaur or trilobite) or fossilized plant warning it of its future. Think of fossil as your friend. Describe the events that occur that eventually lead it to become a fossil.