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Show Petrified Forest Reaches Back Million of Years . -: ' i ' " ' ' ' i I; . . - - , ..- ' i Pf?.!i: '-i- '"' - s - i ' - '.t : ; ' C". f-CX ' ; -'Vj. 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 happened. They reason that the logs were carried downstream and, as they rolled, the branches were moved. They then became waterlogged and settled in the bottom of a stream bed or inland sea where sediment 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 wood, cell by cell, forming the stone masterpieces seen today. Scientists say sectioned appearance ap-pearance of any of these 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 I Carl Davis explains that the major j crystal replacing the wood is white silicon dioxide, and other colors have been caused by different im-purities im-purities in solution with the silicon dixoide at the time the wood was replaced. The reds, browns and yellows were caused primarily 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 unsual and unique park where Paiute Indians camped for the summer near the turn of the century. (Continued on Page 4-C) , Monuments to ancient age, the petrified logs of Escalante Petrified Forest State Reserve (section B on center map) were once living trees which, in death, were transformed cell by cell millions of years ago into brightly colored stone. No Michaelangelo could beign 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 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 annaul 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 Fforest lies 50 miles east of Bryce Canyon National Park on Utah Highway 12, just one mile outside the quiet ranching town of Escalante. In the midst of spectacular coldr, soothing serenity, and historical significance of the petrified forest, Excellent recreational facilities at Escalante Petrified Forest (B) include campground with hot showers, a reservoir for skiing ski-ing or fishing and some of the visitors enjoy the 22 campsites with hot showers, flush toilets and the fishing and water skiing on Wide Hallow Reservoir with its newly 1 constructed boat ramp. The park is still in its beginning stages with new improvements being added each year, its full most unusual and beautiful petrified wood to be found anywhere. Both educational and fun. 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 ex-pected the paleleobotanists will Petrified . . (Continued From Page 2-C) 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 silicon dioxide, and other colors have been caused by different im-' purities in solution with the silicon dixoide at the time the wood was replaced. The reds, browns and yellows were caused primarily 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 unsual and unique park where Paiute Indians camped for the summer near the turn of the century. |