Devils Tower National Monument Paleontological Resources Inventory (Non-Sensitive Version)
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Devils Tower National Monument Paleontological Resources Inventory (Non-Sensitive Version) Natural Resource Report NPS/DETO/NRR—2019/1969 ON THE COVER A block of fossiliferous rock from the Redwater Shale Member of the Sundance Formation showing bivalves. Photo by Justin Tweet (NPS). Devils Tower National Monument Paleontological Resources Inventory (Non-Sensitive Version) Natural Resource Report NPS/DETO/NRR—2019/1969 Justin S. Tweet1 and Vincent L. Santucci2 1National Park Service 9149 79th St. S. Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016 2National Park Service Geologic Resources Division 1849 “C” Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20240 August 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Tweet, J. S., and V. L. Santucci. 2019. Devils Tower National Monument: Paleontological resources inventory (non-sensitive version). Natural Resource Report NPS/DETO/NRR—2019/1969. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 109/159706, August 2019 ii Contents Page Figures.................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables .................................................................................................................................................... ix Photographs ........................................................................................................................................... ix Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ ix Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. xi Acknowledgments ...............................................................................................................................xiii Dedication ............................................................................................................................................ xv Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Significance of Paleontological Resources at DETO ..................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need ........................................................................................................................... 3 Project Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 3 History of Paleontological Work at DETO ............................................................................................ 7 Summary of 2019 Paleontological Resource Inventory ...................................................................... 11 Geology ................................................................................................................................................ 13 Geologic History .......................................................................................................................... 13 Geologic Formations .................................................................................................................... 15 Spearfish Formation (Permian–Triassic) ................................................................................. 15 Gypsum Spring Formation (Middle Jurassic) ......................................................................... 17 Sundance Formation (Middle–Upper Jurassic) ....................................................................... 17 Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic) ..................................................................................... 25 ?Lakota Formation residuum (Lower Cretaceous?) ................................................................ 27 “Agglomerate” (?lower Eocene, with Precambrian to Cretaceous components) .................... 29 Phonolite of Devils Tower (lower Eocene) ............................................................................. 29 Talus and landslide deposits (produced by post-phonolite erosion) ........................................ 30 Quaternary rocks and sediments (Pleistocene–Holocene) ....................................................... 31 Taxonomy ............................................................................................................................................ 33 iii Contents (continued) Page Fossil Plants .................................................................................................................................. 33 Fossil Invertebrates ....................................................................................................................... 33 Phylum Brachiopoda (lamp shells) ......................................................................................... 33 Phylum Mollusca: Class Bivalvia (clams, oysters, etc.).......................................................... 34 Phylum Mollusca: Class Cephalopoda (octopuses, squids, nautiloids, etc.) ........................... 36 Fossil Vertebrates ......................................................................................................................... 39 Ichnofossils ................................................................................................................................... 40 Cultural Resource Connections ............................................................................................................ 43 Paleontological Localities near DETO ................................................................................................ 45 Museum Collections and Curation ....................................................................................................... 47 Park Collections............................................................................................................................ 47 Collections in Other Repositories ................................................................................................. 49 Type Specimens............................................................................................................................ 51 Paleontological Research ..................................................................................................................... 53 Current Research .......................................................................................................................... 53 Paleontological Research Permits ................................................................................................ 53 Interpretation ........................................................................................................................................ 55 Current Long-Range Interpretive Plan ......................................................................................... 55 Recommended Interpretive Themes ............................................................................................. 55 I. General Paleontological Information ................................................................................... 55 II. Fossils of DETO ................................................................................................................. 55 III. Further Interpretation Themes ..........................................................................................