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Hi everyone, My girlfriend and I were hiking near Red Rock Canyon in Southern Nevada yesterday and came across an interesting pattern of pronounced ridges in the rock. My first thought was that they are fossilized water ripples, which have been found in the park. But on one edge the ripples stop in a very clear tapered line, which seems out of place for a shore line. I wish we had put something in the photos to get a better scale of the pattern but you can see my knee and foot in one picture. We got hooked on fossil hunting about a year ago would love to find out more about this pattern. Thank you very much for your help. -- Aaron

Here's one I ran across the other day, Simply put, this is one of the most aesthetically attractive fossil insects preserved on shale I have ever seen. A practically perfect specimen in superb condition. And excellently photographed by a museum technician. It's from what they're calling the Miocene Savage Canyon Formation, Nevada. Some quick research disclosed that, unfortunately, it's from a locality that is no longer accessible to the general public. Somebody more experienced with matters entomological will perhaps recognize just what exactly the bug is: R E L A X, folks--I fully understand that technically speaking it's not a true bug, of course. Looks dipteran, obviously. The photograph is from a web page over at http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1215+1242 .

Conotubus--my new latest favorite fossil. It's an Ediacaran (latest Neoproterozoic--AKA, Precambrian) tubular critter of unestablished zoological affinity (educated guesses include an annelid--specifically some kind of tube worm--or possibly a sea anemone-like animal). And it's been recovered from only two localities on Earth: southern Shaanxi Province, South China; and at one lone site in Nevada. Conotubus shows superficial similarity to the well known Ediacaran tube-type specimen Cloudina, but lacks a mineralized skeleton. Conotubus apparently secreted a tubular home enclosure composed of chitinous material. Image from HERE. Above, two views of the same pyritized (replaced at least partially by pyrite--an iron disulfide, of course, commonly called "fool's gold") Conotubus from the upper Precambrian Esmeralda Member of the upper Precambrian-lower Cambrian Deep Spring Formation, Nevada, where Conotubus occurs several feet below the first appearance of the ichnofossil Trepichnus pedum, which presently helps define (along with geochemical evidence-- a sudden, dramatic negative excursion of a specific carbon isotope) the worldwide base of the Cambrian Period, the transition from Ediacaran times to the earliest moments of the Paleozoic Era. Photograph is a Google Image grab, by the way. Image from HERE. Examples of pyritized Conotubus hemiannulatus from the Ediacaran, late Neoproterozoic Gaojiashan Lagerstätte of southern Shaanxi Province, South China. Photograph is a Google Image grab, by the way.

On occasion, a paleo-pen pal emails me a few images of unusual material (I would consider most of what's sent "unusual," anyhow) he's pulled out of various places. Latest example is in the photograph, below. It's a slab of shale from a lower Ordovician section of the Palmetto Formation, Nevada, that contains carapaces (original phosphatic shell substance preserved intact, by the way) of the curious, extinct, bi-valved phyllocarid crustacean called Caryocaris. The critter seems restricted worldwide to strata of early to mid Ordovician geologic age (a handful of examples assigned to the Silurian are apparently problematic)--sometimes occurring in "graptolitic shale facies." I'd never even heard of these things until I received this image. Had to do some research, indeed. Not something most folks see everyday, I'm thinking.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is not your traditional museum, but it is home to Nevada’s state fossil, the ichthyosaur, so I thought I would write about it here. It’s in the middle of the state, far from any civilization. For years I had seen it marked on maps but I didn’t know anything about it. Since the word “Ichthyosaur” was prominent in the park’s name, I knew I would someday have to go there. So several years ago on my way to southern Utah for a week of photography, I took a detour to check it out. (You can read about the Utah part of my journey in several of my blog entries here but there is no mention of fossils in that part of the trip.) To get there from Reno, most people would take US Highway 50 to Nevada Route 361, then south to Nevada Route 844 and east to the park. This keeps you on paved roads for all but the last few miles to the park. But on these kinds of trips I subscribe to the axiom, “Never take an Interstate Highway when a 2-lane road is an option, and never take a 2-lane road when a dirt road will get you there.” So I decided to take US Highway 50 to Eastgate, then south on a dirt road to the ghost towns of Ione and Berlin, and then a couple more miles to the ichthyosaurs. When I reached Eastgate (not a town, just a private ranch off the side of the road), I shifted my SUV into four-wheel-drive mode and headed out. The dirt road portion is about a 30 mile drive down the middle of the Ione Valley. Don’t expect Google Maps to show you this route, you will need a good AAA paper map to find it. It was a bright summer day and I was the only one on the dirt road. The sagebrush was barely knee high, with clear views for 10 miles in all directions, framed by the Paradise Mountains to the west and the Shoshone Mountains to the east. It is the classic basin-and-range topography that sprawls across most of Nevada. Besides jackrabbits and coyotes, on occasion I would see the rare American pronghorn, often incorrectly called an antelope but really the last surviving member of an otherwise extinct artiodactyl family. To get to the ichthyosaurs you drive past the ghost town of Berlin, a remnant of the gold mining days of the late 1800s. The ichthyosaurs are in a quarry on the ground, protected by a building similar to the larger building at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. The day I arrived I was the only visitor, and no one else showed up while I was there. I spent some time talking to the single ranger on site, a younger guy who had been there just a few months. He was promoted and transferred there to get experience in interpretation to round out the law enforcement experience of his previous assignment at a state recreation area. With only a few visitors a day (and some days in winter where there are none), he didn’t get a lot of opportunity. The ichthyosaurs are a late Triassic species called Shonisaurus, named after the nearby mountains. They are apparently the largest known species, with lengths up to 60 feet. A life-size sculpture on a wall near the building makes them look like giant Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. There are several complete specimens embedded in the rock of the quarry together with numerous fragments (there are no mounted skeletons). It’s a rather small quarry with no excavations currently underway, and you can see it all within an hour. After touring the site I spent the night at the nearby campground, again the only one there. It was a dark night with an incredible view of the stars, accompanied by an occasional coyote serenade. If you go, do it for the total experience of the trip, not just the ichthyosaurs. Take time to explore the Berlin ghost town and spend a night camping out. Be sure to take all the supplies you need, as there are no towns nearby. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is a great place to get away from the rush of civilization and discover a bit of history and prehistory in a remote location. Ghost town of Berlin:

I usually do not buy fossils, but once in a while I see a deal, and can't resist. I won this auction of Cambrian trilobites. The only info on them is that they are from Pioche Nevada. Pioche Shale. There are 2 trilobites on the plate, not really well preserved, but ... I'm thinking one is Olenoides nevadensis. and the other may be Olenellus gilberti. Pictures are from the auction - sorry for the quality: Any thoughts are appreciated.

Hello! I live in Las Vegas and I love fossil hunting in Frenchman Mountain, the there are trilobites everywhere, I finaly found a full body trilobite there, can you guys I.D this one for me? I am pretty sure they are Olenellus nevadensis, because they are common in Nevada (who would have guessed that?) but I am far from an expert.

Found this rock that appears to be shale. It also seems to have a fossil in it. It was found in southern Nevada. What is it?

UNLV researchers puzzle over tracks left near Gold Butte that predate dinosaurs by Henry Brean, Las Vegas review-Journal. November 6, 2016 http://www.lasvegasnow.com/news/ancient-reptile-footprints-found-in-nevada/605337375 http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/science-and-technology/unlv-researchers-puzzle-over-tracks-left-near-gold-butte-predate Stephen Rowland In The News, University of Las Vegas https://www.liedinstitute.com/news/experts/in-the-news/83463 Desert Sands Freeze-Framed Dinosaur Tracks By Linda Faas, Mesquite Citizen Journal http://mesquitecitizen.com/viewnews.php?newsid=6772&id=16 Yours, Paul H. Triassic Gold Butte Clark county

Hello I found these at Frenchman MT Southern NV. Are these real fossils or fakies? I just recently found a trillobite body imprint there so I know that there are fossils there. If anyone wants a good fossil hunting place in Southern NV that is the place, it is owned by the BLM so you can take most fossils you find.

Newb here. Found a small rock along the Acastus Trail in a gully near The Resort on Mount Charleston, Mt Charleston, NV. Don't know anything about fossils but would like to know if this is one. Here's the rock. It broke along a seam during transport. Here's the interior of the fracture. This link shows the spot it was found. Appears to be some errosion on the gully wall/bed. https://www.google.com/maps/@36.2689333,-115.5947296,3a,40.5y,159.38h,82.06t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s7f-5CnCUlfa2YY__8gnu7A!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Here's a close-up of the eroded area. Don't know why the images are importing horizontally on the verticals.

Hi All, This object was found in the Sunrise Formation of Nevada in direct association with definite Sinemurian ammonites. It resembles an orthoconic nautiloid, but these became extinct at the end of the Triassic. It is possibly a belemnite, but the completely circular cross section is unlike most belemnites I have seen. It appears to have widely spaced septa but there is no evidence of a siphuncle in section. The object is about 60mm long. Any suggestions?

The rock is about 10 inches long and 5 inches wide. I will post 2 pictures of the same rock opposite sides. I think its about 240 mya from Nevada.

I was cleaning out my garage this past weekend and ran into a fish fossil I collected and put in a box about a decade ago. I collected it with a friend out in the diatomaceous earth quarries near Hazen Nevada. This is where the small Gasterosteus and Fundulus fish are found in great abundance. But from my understanding anything else is pretty rare. This fish is probably about 2 feet in length when assembled from the pieces. See photos, any insights on what I have would be appreciated.

Parry's Lip Fern (Cheilanthes parryi) growing beside fossilized coral in Clark County, NV. This was one of my favorite photo-ops and one of the few cases where I had a specific subject in mind before actually finding it. I had seen lots of ferns and plenty of fossils at this spot, but I really wanted to show the juxtaposition of their patterns together—one living, the other as ancient remains. After a few visits, I finally found what I was looking for! -Zach

IDs on any of these would be appreciated. Also, rather than just relying on all of you (though I am of course grateful for all the help), I'd like to try and learn to identify some of this stuff myself. Any suggestions on some good books (or other resources) that would be helpful? Right now all I have is the Smithsonian Handbooks field guide. Thanks! Zach 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Found a bunch of these things the other day while fossil hunting in southern NV. They reminded me of burnt/rusty pieces of popcorn (with crystals)! I know these are likely not of fossil origin, but I thought someone on here might be able to identify what they are. They resemble the "pyrite nodules" depicted in the Smithsonian Handbooks Rocks & Minerals guide. Any thoughts? Thank you, Zach

www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/co/programs/minerals.Par.44677.File.dat/Rockhounding%20Brochure.pdf Get the Rockhounding & Fossil Collecting BLM State brochure(s). Each area in a State can vary somewhat, so check in with each local or regional office. They KNOW what is going on for decades, so just ask... do not play stupid. For other State BLM Offices... inquire. Even the small local offices will provide you with information when you stop at the offices. There are also National Forest Service (NFS), National Grasslands, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, State Parks and Recreation.... and others. This example is for the Colorado BLM. Best local information: Local Rock Shop(s). They know everything that is going on in the area. They also sell books, booklets and maps at some larger shops. The "tourist shops" sell mostly Brazilian amethyst geodes and Morocco fossils... just kidding... but you know what I am saying. Nothing seems to be local at these shops and I haven't time to look at the same stuff you can buy in Tucson at the February shows.

Found in southern NV the other day. Anyone know what this could be? Thank you!

I'm quite an amateur at this, but I found two interesting looking pieces near Las Vegas. One may be a tooth.. or just an oddly shaped rock. The other looks like petrified wood due to the rings. I hope the pics are clear enough. I measured the "fossil" as 2" x 1.5 inches (small). What do you guys think? "fossil": Fossilized wood: Also, does anyone know of any good fossil sites in AZ, NV (especially the Las Vegas area), UT or southern CA?

Giant Triassic Ichthyosaur Found in Nevada Desert Sci-News.com-by Enrico de Lazaro, January 9, 2013 http://www.sci-news....ticle00812.html Bus-Size Sea Monster Found, Took On Prey Its Own Size. Thalattoarchon saurophagis had large, sharp teeth, recent excavations show. National Geographic, January 7, 2013 http://news.national...science-nevada/ Field Museum Sea Predator Fossil: Scientist Unearths 'T-Rex Of The Sea. Huffington Post. January 9, 2013 http://www.huffingto..._n_2441316.html The paper is: Frobisch, N. B., J. Frobisch, P. M. Sander, L. Schmitz, and O. Rieppel, 2013, Macropredatory ichthyosaur from the Middle Triassic and the origin of modern trophic networks. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Published online before print January 7, 2013, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1216750110 http://www.pnas.org/...1/02/1216750110 Best wishes, Paul H.

Fossil Forams –our smallest but most numerous fossils, Moap Valley Progress, January 2, 2103 http://mvprogress.co...-fossils/print/ or http://mvprogress.co...merous-fossils/ Best wishes, Paul H.