Indian Springs National Natural Landmark Display Coming to the BLM's Royal Gorge Field Office
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CANON CITY, Colo. - This November, world-renowned fossils found locally at the Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site will be on display in the BLM’s Royal Gorge Field Office’s front room.
Local expert Carly Thorson will be at the field office to share stories and information about the fossils found at her family’s ranch on the following dates:
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Nov. 12, 14, 18, 20 and 22
2 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Nov. 13, 19 and 21
The Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site is located just east of Canon City on the Thorson Family Ranch. The National Park Service designated it as a National Natural Landmark due to the importance of the Ordovician Period (485 to 443 million years ago) trace fossils found there. These trace fossils include tracks left by trilobites, fish and other prehistoric creatures on the bottom of an ancient ocean.
Indian Springs is considered the best locality to study Ordovician Period trace fossils in North America because of the excellent preservation and wide variety of ichnospecies, or types of trace fossils, found there. Every year, geology groups from around the country come to visit Indian Springs.
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Carly’s display at the Denver Gem and Mineral Show. Photo courtesy of Dan Grenard.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.