Near Kemmerer in Lincoln County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)
Fossil Butte
Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, September 23, 2010
1. Fossil Butte Marker
Inscription.
Fossil Butte is a 50 million year old lakebed and one of the richest fossil resources in the world. It is part of the Green River Formation, a layer of rock composed of laminated limestone, mudstone, and volcanic ash. Complete paleo-ecosystems are preserved in the formation, which is the geologic remnant of the Green River Lake System of the Eocene era. Designated on October 23, 1972, Fossil Butte National Monument encompasses a part of land that was once under Fossil Lake., Fossil Lake was the smallest and shortest-lived of the Green River System lakes. At its largest size, the lake covered 932 square miles and existed for approximately three million years. One phenomenon of the Fossil Lake fossils is their density. There are as many as several hundred fossilized fish per square meter in some portions of Fossil Butte. At least thirteen genera of fish are found in the sediments of fossil lake, as well as a wide variety of species, from large predators like gar and bowfin to the now extinct Knightia, Diplomystus, and Priscacara. Plant and invertebrate records are equally diverse. Evidence of lily pads, horsetails, ferns, palms, and poplar and elm trees exist along Fossil Lake’s floodplain and lower elevations. The remains of dragonflies, mosquito larvae, and water striders bear testament to the vibrancy of this freshwater ecosystem. In addition, evidence of freshwater mollusks, snails, crayfish, and shrimp has been found., The paleontologist who worked at Fossil Butte have deposited specimens at the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, and Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.
Fossil Butte is a 50 million year old lakebed and one of the richest fossil resources in the world. It is part of the Green River Formation, a layer of rock composed of laminated limestone, mudstone, and volcanic ash. Complete paleo-ecosystems are preserved in the formation, which is the geologic remnant of the Green River Lake System of the Eocene era. Designated on October 23, 1972, Fossil Butte National Monument encompasses a part of land that was once under Fossil Lake.
Fossil Lake was the smallest and shortest-lived of the Green River System lakes. At its largest size, the lake covered 932 square miles and existed for approximately three million years. One phenomenon of the Fossil Lake fossils is their density. There are as many as several hundred fossilized fish per square meter in some portions of Fossil Butte. At least thirteen genera of fish are found in the sediments of fossil lake, as well as a wide variety of species, from large predators like gar and bowfin to the now extinct Knightia, Diplomystus, and Priscacara. Plant and invertebrate records are equally diverse. Evidence of lily pads, horsetails, ferns, palms, and poplar and elm trees exist along Fossil Lake’s floodplain and lower elevations. The remains of dragonflies, mosquito larvae, and water striders bear testament to the vibrancy of this freshwater ecosystem.
Click or scan to see this page online
In addition, evidence of freshwater mollusks, snails, crayfish, and shrimp has been found.
The paleontologist who worked at Fossil Butte have deposited specimens at the Field Museum in Chicago, IL, the American Museum of Natural History, in New York City, and Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C.
Location. 41° 48.911′ N, 110° 37.8′ W. Marker is near Kemmerer, Wyoming, in Lincoln County. Marker is on U.S. 30, 5.3 miles west of U.S. 189, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kemmerer WY 83101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, September 23, 2010
2. Fossil Butte Marker
Photographed By Bryan R. Bauer, September 23, 2010
3. Fossil Butte
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. This page has been viewed 1,107 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 6, 2010, by Bryan R. Bauer of Kearns, Ut 84118. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.