Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Nebraska

by United States. National Park Service

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado

This site has long been famous for its fossils of insects and plants preserved in fine-grained sediments. Specimens of Brontothere indicate an Eocene age for the deposits. Mailing address: P.O. Box 185, Florissant, CO 80816.

Florissant

Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming

Within the strata of this rock remnant of an ancient lake is one of the most extensive concentrations of fossilized freshwater fish known to science. The site is about 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of Kemmerer, Wyoming. Mailing address: P.O. Box 592, Kemmerer, WY 83101.

Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

Petrified Forest

Here in the Late Triassic Chinle Formation are widespread deposits of petrified logs. Some are nearly 2 meters in diameter and 60 meters long (6.5 by 197 feet). Preserved in bright colors of opal and other minerals, the most common trees are relatives of the living monkey puzzle or Hawaiian star pine. Paleontologists believe many of the logs floated to the area in Triassic rivers and became stranded. In the museum are displays of various fossil plant species and animal fossils from the same deposits. Mailing address: P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest National Park, AZ 86028.