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Molas Pass, Colorado


Ptychodus04

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I just took a trip up to the Weminuche Wilderness (southwest Colorado) for some camping and high altitude asphyxiation. On the way, we stopped off at the scenic overlook at Molas Pass.

Being the rockhound I am, I got bored quickly with the scenic views and began inspecting the rock outcroppings. I found several crinoid pieces, brachiopods, and a few oddities yet to be identified. My question is... does anyone here in the Borg know the age/formation of the limestone at Molas Pass? Marine fossils at 10,899 feet! That's some serious uplift.

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Early Pennsylvanian-300MYO

Hermosa formation and or Molas formation

Scroll to stop 7. I'm sure this will help.

Best regards,

Paul

22.pdf

Edited by Raggedy Man

...I'm back.

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The Laramide Orogeny began ~80 MYA, and ended ~55MYA, and the southern Rockies pushed through/lifted Pennsylvanian & Permian rocks.

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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According to the fossilsites website, San Juan County has outcrops ranging from Devonian to Pennsylvanian in age.

The Ouray and Hermosa formations, respectively.

Helpful Links-

LINK 1

LINK 2

LINK 3

Regards,

EDIT: Doh! Outgunned again! :P

Edited by Fossildude19

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I was on a fossil trip to McCoy, CO. I found crioid stems, brachiopods, nautiloids, shark teeth (Petalodus), and petrified wood. They are from the middle Pennsylvanian Period, around 300 million years ago. They are from the marine/terrestrial Minturn Formation. I found them in late June

1: Crinoids (Isocrinus?)

2: Brachiopods (Aquaspinifer, Composita)

3: Cephalopod (Pseudorthoceras)

post-19165-0-77845700-1438273107_thumb.jpg

post-19165-0-53347400-1438273250_thumb.jpg

post-19165-0-99628700-1438273498_thumb.jpg

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Thanks to all. This helps.

Coming from my house at a staggering 556 ft. elevation, Molas Pass was quite different. Stony Pass at 12,650 ft was staggering (literally). I got out of the truck to take a picture and nearly fainted from lack of O2. I felt like Ziggy's emoticon!!!

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