Abstract:
The northwestern corner of Wyoming (Park and Bighorn counties) is a geological
paradise for fossil hunting enthusiasts and scientists alike. Geologists have been collecting fossils in this part of the country to help further their understanding of rock
formations for many years. Scientists and informed enthusiasts know where to find
fossils based on aspects of geology, and possess the tools necessary to collect the fossil
without damaging the surrounding rock. Tourists and amateur fossil hunters find these
sites through word of mouth and hunt for fossils there, often ruining the site for future
study. In addition, amateur fossil hunters sometimes lack the knowledge to locate correct
sites, and end up searching the wrong rock layers in vain. A fossil guide, as an iPhone
application, that includes locations of known fossils in Park and Bighorn counties of
Wyoming, a background on the geology of the region, and how to collect fossils correctly
would be helpful for tourists and educators alike. Tourists would learn how to locate
fossils based on the surrounding geology, what the fossils are, and how to take the fossils
from the surrounding bedrock. Teachers could use the guide to instruct students about
geology in the field. They can also use the guide to pinpoint locations that are of great geologic significance, teach about "a day in the life of a paleontologist," and allow the
students to search for an item to take home to remember the day. Past guides have
included the geologic history and descriptions of locations, but none have included fossil
locations using GPS. This guide is an effort to consolidate as many different sources as
possible. Geologic knowledge, GPS waypoints, tools for collecting, laws of collecting,
pictures of fossils, and paleontological knowledge will be included in the guide. This
guide will provide practical information in a user-friendly format that increases the user's
geologic and paleontologic knowledge and will also help protect geologically valuable
sites from being plundered.
