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Florissant

Florissant. Jessica Osborne GEO 401 Fall 2007. Florissant. Rock Formation located in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado -34 to 35 mya in the Eocene Epoch -Volcanic eruptions blanketed the area with ash and pumice and basal flow.

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Florissant

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  1. Florissant Jessica Osborne GEO 401 Fall 2007

  2. Florissant • Rock Formation located in the central Rocky Mountains of Colorado • -34 to 35 mya in the Eocene Epoch • -Volcanic eruptions blanketed the area with ash and pumice and basal flow. • -The ash covered plants and animals and fossilized them in the sediments at the bottom of the lake as it turned to shale. • -Due to the conditions, the probability of fossilization was much greater.

  3. The formation consists of alternating layers of volcanic debris and shale/mudstone Fossils are found in the shale and mudstone units.

  4. The lower mudstone unit contains the fossilized remains of redwoods. The trees where fossilized when a basalt flow from the nearby Guffey volcano blanketed the area.

  5. The upper and middle shale units contain the famous fossil beds of the Florissant -One of the most diverse fossil deposits in the world. -Over 1,700 different species of plants and animals -Majority are detailed impressions and compressions of plants and insects -The fossils display great detail rarely found in fossil records. -Everything from giant redwoods to microscopic diatoms and pollen grains are found in the fossil record

  6. Some of the exquisite fossils found include rarely fossilized specimens; such as mosses, flowers and butterflies.

  7. The plant fossil record is dominated by conifers & broad-leafed trees. “White cedar” chamaecyparis linguaefolia www.nps.gov Pinus Florissanti www.nps.gov Pinus species conifer www.nps.gov

  8. Vertebrates are rarely found in the fossil record of the Florissant but have included; birds, fish, small three-toed horses, possum like marsupials and pig like mammals. Amyzon commune www.nps.gov shorebird skull www.nps.gov Herpetotherium cf. huntii www.nps.gov

  9. Many fossils found are similar to today’s plants and insects but no longer inhabit the Colorado area. For Example: Tsetse fly No longer lives in North America but thrives in the Sub-Sahara of Africa.

  10. Why is the Florissant important? -The fossil record has given us many clues on the ecosystem that existed there in the past. -Insects have been found on their host plants. -Fossilized leaves have captured disease and insect damage.

  11. -Through the fossil record scientists have been able to determine the environment was warm and sub-tropical, unlike its current conditions. -Compare and contrast modern species to the fossils of the past.

  12. References www.nps.gov/flfo www.ucmp.berkley.edu www.sangres.com www.paleoportal.com www.wildernet.com www.wooster.edu

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