The Triassic in California, US

Triassic in California map

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Geologic map of CA from California Geological Survey (625 KB PDF)

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Triassic Fossils
Fossil photos from Triassic in California

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Paleontology and geology

The western edge of North America during the Triassic would have been somewhere around the California-Nevada border. Although still in the tropics, the climate of western North America was becoming more arid as rising mountains blocked moisture-bearing winds coming from the seas. Shales, sandstones, conglomerates, dolostones, and limestones were deposited in the shallow-to-deep marine environments off the coast. Exposures in Northern California (Shasta and Plumas Counties) have yielded a diverse marine fauna, including fossils of ammonites, brachiopods, bivalves, echinoderms, and marine reptiles.

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Resources

Resources

Courses and Lectures (showing 1 of 1 listings)

Paleogeography of the Southwestern U.S.: The paleogeography of the southwestern U.S. from 1.8 billion years ago to 10 million years ago. Text and images by Dr. Ron Blakey from Northern Arizona University.

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Field Guides (showing 1 of 1 listings)

Ammonoids At Union Wash, California: Visit a famous Early Triassic ammonite locality in the shadows of Mount Whitney; virtual field trip; many images of fossils; paleontology links, plus links to Inyo County.

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Image Collections (showing 1 of 1 listings)

Some Fossil Brachiopods: Images of several fossil brachiopods, dating in geologic age from early Cambrian to Pleistocene, with explanatory text.

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General Reference (showing 1 of 1 listings)

Fossils In Death Valley National Park: The paleontology, geology and natural wonders of Death Valley National Park (and more); many images of fossils; field trips; paleontology links, plus links to Death Valley.

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Oregon State Map
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Northwest Mexico Region Map

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