Day 63 May 6



One of the Dinosaurs found in the park.

Today we went to Petrified Forest National Park.  It has a huge amount of petrified trees, trees that only grow in the tropics near the equator.  This means that the area we are in use to be near the equator.  There used to be a big river here.  The trees would fall in the river and become covered by sand and mud.  The silica rich water allowed for the replacement of the trees with silica turning the trees into rock. What helped preserve the trees also helped preserve some animals.  Some extraordinary fossil finds have been made at the park.  There are some active dig sites at the park that are finding more dinosaurs.  The digs are done in the summer months though so none were going on when we were there.  They are not open to the public anyway. 

  Collection of petrified wood in the park is illegal but there are plenty of legal sellers in the area. 




The tree looks cut but it is not, the act of crystallization creates
nature weak spots so the logs fracture at regular intervals.



Bonus animal, an elk right near the car.

Anna next to one of the big specimens.

We went to the biggest seller of petrified wood and rock in the area.  It was a huge rock shop.  I was able to purchase lots of nice specimens of native rock and petrified wood. The park ranger said this particular dealer owns 40,000 acres near the park and makes his money mining for fossils and ranching. I will bring the samples to school when I get back.