Marble Mountain California Trilobites

Although trilobites are the most common and most popular fossils in the latham shale they are not the only fossils that have been found there.

Marble mountain california trilobites.

A group of fossil seekers explores with eager attentiveness an exposure of the lower cambrian latham shale at the classic trilobite quarry in the marble mountains. Collecting trilobites in the marble mountains california. Trilobites in the marble mountains mojave desert california. It s a special place now included in the rather recently.

Trilobites were small marine crustaceans that resemble modern day horseshoe crabs. The marble mountain fossil beds lie in a beautiful shale formation that is 60 feet thick and over 550 million years old. Take a trip to the place that first inspired my life long fascination and interest in fossils the classic trilobite quarry in the lower cambrian latham shale in the marble mountains of california s mojave desert. Marble mountain fossil bed contains one of the classic cambrian trilobite fossil sites within the western united states.

However the land has become part of a nationally. Our plan was to explore them on saturday camp there then meet the yucaipa valley gem and mineral society for a trilobite fossil hunt on sunday. The mountains contain a rich outcropping of the latham shale known for its diversity of lower cambrian fossils. The latham shale borders the cadiz and chambless formations both named after the small towns nearby.

Geology of the area. One of the classic cambrian trilobite fossil sites in the western u s. January is a great month to explore the marble mountains. Is located at this beautiful outcrop in a 60 foot thick formation over 550 million years old.

The marble mountains are a rather small mountain range located in one of the harshest driest parts of the mojave desert in southeastern california near the tiny towns of chambless and cadiz. Here is the posting from the california bureau of land management website please visit the website for rules on collecting. Trilobites were small marine crustaceans that resembled modern day. The land was first set aside in april 1931 as the marble mountain primitive area which comprised 234 957 acres 950 84 km 2.

Please note that this photograph was taken long before the marble mountains became part of a national monument. The fossils are approximately 518 million years old. In addition to many trilobite fossils found here this rock collecting area yields green epidote dolomite chrysocolla chalcedony serpentine marble garnet and specular hematite iron and kenatite chalcedony crystals geodes.