Wonderful
Scaled Skin
Imprint
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Although the fossil remains of dinosaurs are scarce in Minnesota, that doesn't mean the subject should be ignored.
The level of detail in this reproduction is breathtaking. Observe the pattern of transition from larger to smaller scales.
The students will employ their imagination, entertain hypotheses and create colorful patterns with pigments of their choice.
This approximately 2" x 3" Plaster of Paris reproduction of dino skin is sure to engage students and generate timeless discussion. A 10-piece pack has your budget in mind — only $7 plus postage.
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Add to your library of fossils. Order the 6-piece Minnesota & More Fossil Collection.
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Trace Fossils
Fossils can occur without any part of the organism remaining. As illustrated in the picture above, footprints, tracks and burrows are trace fossils indicating where creatures have existed.
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Receptaculid
Receptaculitids are fossils of the Paleozoic, usually found in rocks formed from sediments associated with a shallow calm marine environment. Receptaculid skeltons were calcareous and had a very distinctive shape and structure. In the picture shown above, you can see the distinctive shape of the receptaculid skeleton. The sequence of skeletal structures creates a radiating pattern similar to that seen in sunflowers and pine cones. You may get a better mental image if you close your eyes and use your imagination.
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This collection is useful to non-professionals who simply wish to learn more about the geologic history of Minnesota. It is not intended to be a one-stop, comprehensive collection. It is useful to anyone with an interest in earth science or the geology of Minnesota.
Fossil collecting is a wonderful pastime enjoyed by a multitude of Minnesotans. Anyone can join in. This collection can serve as a good starting point. In many instances this collection has become an important part of classroom instruction, an integral part of the hands-on experience.
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Minnesota & More Fossil Collection.
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Fossils are found in selective rock strata across Minnesota.
In the north, the fossil record indicates that on the eastern part of the Iron Range around Virginia sediment deposition was continental in nature. The fossils consist of plant fragments, pinecones, and leaves. Just north of Virginia the strata had a thick section of lignite coal.
From Buhl westward the rock strata suggests sediments common to a shallow water marine environment. The fossil record consists of pelecypods, cephalopods, shark teeth and reptile teeth.
On the western end of the Iron Range southwest of Grand Rapids the fossil record suggests sediments and fossils common to a deepwater environment. There is an absence of gastropods, and shallow water pelecypods. Turtle fragments, marine reptiles such as plesiosaur, and crocodile bones have been found in specific strata on the Mesabi Range.
Some of the best places to collect fossils around the Twin Cites are in Ramsey, Dakota, and Goodhue Counties. Most rocks in this region formed from sediments deposited in a marine environment. A variety of fossilized marine organisms can be found including corals, bryozoans, brachiopods, clams, snails, cephalopods, and trilobites.
The Decorah Shale is the best formation in southeastern Minnesota for beginners to collect fossils. Exposures of the shale can be found in riverbanks and eroded hill slopes. The easiest sites to collect fossils, however, include manmade excavations like roadcuts and rock quarries.
Cretaceous leaf fossils
In 1995, leaf imprints from as many as 15 plant species were discovered at a kaolin clay mine in Nicollet County. Photos of many of these leaves are included in the Field Guide Photo Album. Buy now
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Cretaceous leaf imprints preserved in clay
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since June, 2006.