Day 2 Images
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Day 2 (7/7/03) - West Bijou Creek at Soil Conservation District
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Rich Barclay & Bob Raynolds explaining the large perspective of the geology of the western U.S. and Pacific plates.

Rich Barclay & Bob Raynolds explaining the large perspective of the geology of the western U.S. and Pacific plates.

"Van-side" lecture prior to hike down into West Bijou Creek

"Van-side" lecture prior to hike down into West Bijou Creek

Diversity of flora at West Bijou Creek.  (Looks like a modern day VW Van painted with ancient flora!)

Diversity of flora at West Bijou Creek. (Looks like a modern day VW Van painted with ancient flora!)

Pine trees in distance are in D2. They like well-drained, coarser sediments.

Pine trees in distance are in D2. They like well-drained, coarser sediments.

Outcrop known as "Grace's Oven".  We drew diagrams of this location and excavated some fossil leaves.

Outcrop known as "Grace's Oven". We drew diagrams of this location and excavated some fossil leaves.

Kirk Johnson (left) & Bob Raynolds (right) while they were both drawing the outcrop to show differences in style and content.

Kirk Johnson (left) & Bob Raynolds (right) while they were both drawing the outcrop to show differences in style and content.

Some fossil leaves found at Grace's Oven.

Some fossil leaves found at Grace's Oven.

Fossil leaf found at Grace's Oven.

Fossil leaf found at Grace's Oven.

A very large concretion believe to be a fossil tree trunk.  An interesting phenomenon is that these are usually all found pointing in a parallel direction, believed to be downstream in the ancient river.

A very large concretion believe to be a fossil tree trunk. An interesting phenomenon is that these are usually all found pointing in a parallel direction, believed to be downstream in the ancient river.

Kirk demonstrating a method of determining whether a fragment is bone or rock.  Bone is very porous and it will stick to your tongue, while other material will not.  Simple, but effective.

Kirk demonstrating a method of determining whether a fragment is bone or rock. Bone is very porous and it will stick to your tongue, while other material will not. Simple, but effective.

Hunting for bone fragments in Cretaceous sediments.

Hunting for bone fragments in Cretaceous sediments.

Marine dinosaur rib (hadrosaur?) found "exploded" from weathering at the surface.  Dinosaur rib was 3.6 meters below the K-T boundary (or approximately 30-40K years based on average deposition rates in the Denver Basin).

Marine dinosaur rib (hadrosaur?) found "exploded" from weathering at the surface. Dinosaur rib was 3.6 meters below the K-T boundary (or approximately 30-40K years based on average deposition rates in the Denver Basin).

Turtle shell fragments found in Cretaceous sediments.

Turtle shell fragments found in Cretaceous sediments.

Palm roots along coal layer at West Bijou Creek.  Note 0.5 mm pencil lead in picture for scale.  It's exactly the same size as the palm roots.

Palm roots along coal layer at West Bijou Creek. Note 0.5 mm pencil lead in picture for scale. It's exactly the same size as the palm roots.

Rich Barclay in an outcrop named "Big Phone Booth".  Bottom of outcrop is carbonaceous mudstone, above that is coal (lignite), then a white ash layer, then Paleocene plants.  Thus, the K-T boundary has been crossed in this single outcrop.  Evidence of K-T is present in pollen, shocked quartz, Iridium and a 50% extinction rate of plants.

Rich Barclay in an outcrop named "Big Phone Booth". Bottom of outcrop is carbonaceous mudstone, above that is coal (lignite), then a white ash layer, then Paleocene plants. Thus, the K-T boundary has been crossed in this single outcrop. Evidence of K-T is present in pollen, shocked quartz, Iridium and a 50% extinction rate of plants.

Panoramic image of K/T boundary at West Bijou Creek (4 images).  Outcrop named "Big Phone Booth".  Bottom of outcrop is carbonaceous mudstone, above that is coal (lignite), then a white ash layer, then Paleocene plants.  Thus, the K-T boundary has been crossed in this single outcrop.  Evidence of K-T is present in pollen, shocked quartz, Iridium and a 50% extinction rate of plants.

Panoramic image of K/T boundary at West Bijou Creek (4 images). Outcrop named "Big Phone Booth". Bottom of outcrop is carbonaceous mudstone, above that is coal (lignite), then a white ash layer, then Paleocene plants. Thus, the K-T boundary has been crossed in this single outcrop. Evidence of K-T is present in pollen, shocked quartz, Iridium and a 50% extinction rate of plants.

Sherman (a NYC resident attending Yale) experiences a little bit of the West.

Sherman (a NYC resident attending Yale) experiences a little bit of the West.

Rich Barclay exclaims, "Wait a minute!  This isn't a fossil snake!!"

Rich Barclay exclaims, "Wait a minute! This isn't a fossil snake!!"

Steve Wagner & bull snake

Steve Wagner & bull snake

Nothing like a cold beer at camp after a long, hot day in the sun!

Nothing like a cold beer at camp after a long, hot day in the sun!

Stretching aching muscles

Stretching aching muscles