Paleozoic Fossils

Many of the carbonate rocks around Gold Butte National Monument contain Paleozoic Fossils. Presented here is a small collection of photos of these fossils.

During the Paleozoic, Nevada was under the sea. As environmental conditions changed, sea levels changes (up and down) and sea water chemistry changed. In response to these changes, animal species came and went, evolved, went extinct, and left evidence of their time on earth on the sea floor.

The sea floor muck changed to limestone, the sea moved off to the west, and tectonic forces raised the sea floor to build mountains. As the mountain erode, fossils are revealed.

Keep an eye on the rocks and delight in finding fossils -- a connection between you and the creatures that lived their lives long ago.