The Silurian in Iowa, US

Silurian in Iowa map
 

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Silurian Fossils
Fossil photos from Silurian in Iowa

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Paleontology and geology

Shallow seas covered Iowa during the Silurian, and the rocks of this time interval are predominately dolostones, found today in the eastern part of the state. These rocks formed from limy muds that accumulated on the ancient sea floor. The first large-scale reefs formed during the Silurian, although these structures were more like muddy “mounds” than the reefs growing in the tropics today. The preserved remnants of some of these reefs can be seen in eastern Iowa, where fossils include distinctive "chain corals," numerous species of brachiopods, snails, and other marine invertebrates.

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Research and Collections | Resources

Research and Collections

Researchers (showing 2 of 2 listings)

University of Iowa Paleontology Repository: The UI Paleontology Repository is home to over a million fossils from all over the world and from all time periods, and is used for research and teaching. We also provide education services, hands-on tours around the collections and geology exhibits for schools and community groups, and fossil identification and collection care services.

Dr. Thomas W. Kammer: Specialty: Evolutionary paleoecology of Paleozoic crinoids, plus lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy of marine Mississippian rocks in the east-central United States. Field areas include West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa.

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Resources

Databases (showing 1 of 1 listings)

Fossils in My Back Yard: Explore a geologic map of Iowa, county by county, to see lists and photos of fossils in the collections of the University of Iowa Paleontology Repository.

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