THESE DAZZLING ROCK FORMATIONS STAND WHERE DINOSAURS ONCE ROAMED
The dinosaur fossils found in the badlands are a testament to ancient life in the region and a testament to the rich energy resources that lie beneath the surface. The buried remains of prehistoric forests, plant and animal life created large coal deposits and an oil field, which frequently leads to conflict between those who want to capitalize on the energy reserves and those who want to preserve the natural and cultural treasures.
70 million years ago (or so) most of New Mexico was covered by a shallow inland sea, the Western Interior Seaway. At the time, the continents of the planet were configured differently and New Mexico was equatorial. The region that includes the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness was a river delta feeding into this sea. The fossil record preserved samples of freshwater life that flourished in that ancient river.
The river’s current shaped and relocated mounds of sediment. As the water receded, swamps formed, creating lush foliage along the riverbanks. Prehistoric mammals roamed the region. Over millions of years the remaining water dissipated. Massive amounts of organic material accumulated, compressed over time into the beds of lignite seen today. The lignite beds are primarily in the De-Na-Zin area, which is where most of the petrified wood and fossils can be found. There are narrow channels in the De-Na-Zin area that look like there was a recent flood, with entire trees tossed around like straws in dead end gulches…except the trees are stone so the flood must have occurred long ago.
70 million years ago (or so) most of New Mexico was covered by a shallow inland sea, the Western Interior Seaway. At the time, the continents of the planet were configured differently and New Mexico was equatorial. The region that includes the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness was a river delta feeding into this sea. The fossil record preserved samples of freshwater life that flourished in that ancient river.
The river’s current shaped and relocated mounds of sediment. As the water receded, swamps formed, creating lush foliage along the riverbanks. Prehistoric mammals roamed the region. Over millions of years the remaining water dissipated. Massive amounts of organic material accumulated, compressed over time into the beds of lignite seen today. The lignite beds are primarily in the De-Na-Zin area, which is where most of the petrified wood and fossils can be found. There are narrow channels in the De-Na-Zin area that look like there was a recent flood, with entire trees tossed around like straws in dead end gulches…except the trees are stone so the flood must have occurred long ago.
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26 February 2023
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