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Show Petrified Forest State Reserve . Monuments to ancient age, the petrified logs of Escalante Petrified Forest State Reserve were once living trees which, in death, were transformed cell by cell millions of years ago into brilliantly colored stone. No Michaelangelo could begin to duplicate nature's craftsmanship in forming these specimens. Where the sculptor can only transform the exterior of his marble to resemble reality, nature has replaced each cell of the tree r ,!.& 'si'.'. J I ' , -4 . .... - - -rT -i fv I. iff.L - ' .i.'-"-vT A2' mmmp . , id Mra paleobotanists will ultimately identify fossil remains of more than 150 kinds of terrestrial animals and plants. The visitor is constantly reminded that all fossil remains must not be removed, but collectors can buy petrified wood samples in Escalante from pieces found on private land. All the petrified logs in the park seem to have been trimmed of their branches and scientists who have studied them feel that is exactly what must have happened. They reason that the logs were carried downstream and, as they rolled, the branches were removed. They became waterlogged and settled in the bottom of a streambed or inland seas where sediments gradually covered them. As gravel covered the logs, it locked out oxygen, stopping the decaying process. As the wood dissolved away, it was replaced by crystals of silicon dioxide which took the place of the original (Continued on Page 5-B) with minerals that hardened over the years, making the once-living matter its own tombstone, as magnificent in death as it was in life. Even the annual growth rings are countable on some specimens and knotholes visable on others. Working her miracle in this colorful part of Garfield County, nature has left behind some of the finest examples of petrified wood to be found in the nation. Escalante Petrified Forest lies 50 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park on Utah Highway 12, just one mile outside the quiet town of Escalante. In the midst of spectacular color, soothing serenity, and historical significance of the petrified forest, visitors enjoy the 22 campsites with hot showers, flush toilets and the fishing and waterskiing on Wide Hollow Reservoir with its newly constructed boat ramp. The park is still in its beginning stages with new improvements being added each year, its full potential not yet realized. A self-guiding self-guiding trail winds about a mile where signs are keyed to a trail guide available at park headquarters. As professionals begin to study the fossil remains in detail, it is expected that An exquisite example of petrified wood similar to that which can be found in Garfield County as well as blue and red agate, red and yellow jasper and other mineral varieties to delight the rockhound. . v .- ' . ,4-u -V"-. ., . . . Excellent recreational facilities at Escalante Petrified Forest B include campground with hot showers, a reservoir reser-voir for skiing or fishing and some of the most unusual and beautiful petrified wood to be found anywhere. Both educational and fun. Petrified State Reserve (Continued from Page 4-B) wood cell by cell, forming the stone masterpieces seen today. Scientists say the sectioned sec-tioned appearance of any of the logs is due to vertical cracks formed as the Great Basin Plateau uplifted over the years. As cracks were exposed, water entered, and freezing water enlarged the fractures until the log was cut into sections. Park visitors most often ask about the rainbow of colors found in the petrified logs. Park Superintendent Carl Davis explains that the major crystal replacing the wood is white solicon dioxide, and other colors have been caused by different dif-ferent impurities in solution with the silicon dioxide at the time the wood was replaced. The reds, browns and yellows were caused primarly by iron compounds where the purples and dark blues were made by manganese and other minerals. Visitors to Escalante Petrified Forest will enjoy becoming acquainted with the unusual and unique park where Paiute Indians camped for the summer near the turn of the century. |
