Paleo Parks

03/13/2026

International Fossil Day (IFD) welcomes organizations, museums, and groups internationally to celebrate paleontology through special exhibits or events for at least a day or weekend in the first two weeks of October 2026. Sponsored by the International Paleontological Association ( http://www.ipa-assoc.com/ ).
More information about IFD will be posted as October approaches. IFD can be designated for any day in the first part of October since the availability of days may vary in different countries.  In past years, 15 or more countries have reported about their IFDs. All report great interest and excitement by their particular celebration. 

03/13/2026

The Trilobite Wilderness protects the Marble Mountains, a narrow volcanic range stretching about 12 miles across the Mojave Desert. The mountains are marked by alternating dark and light brown rock layers that have been tilted by geologic forces, giving the range its marbled appearance. Yellowish sandstone peaks and long talus slopes run through the center.

East of the range, the landscape transitions to rolling desert hills and broad bajadas. The area supports typical Mojave wildlife, including a stable population of bighorn sheep (around 150 animals) and important habitat for the threatened desert tortoise.

The wilderness covers 37,308 acres, bordered by a gas pipeline to the north, Kelbaker Road to the west, and BLM routes to the south.

The Trilobite Wilderness covers the Marble Mountains, a narrow volcanic range extending 12 miles in a northwest-southwest direction. Alternating dark brown and light brown striations have been tilted by geologic processes and give a marbled appearance to the range. Through the center, several yellow...

10/02/2024

Symposium for GSA Cordilliran section meeting Aprill 2-5, 2025, Sacramento. Contributors from the scientific, citizens and student communities are welcome to submit abstracts for oral or poster sessions between October 1 and January 28. Questions & answers, contact me at [email protected]

08/23/2024

GEOLOGIC MISINFORMATION ON THE INTERNET: THE FACEBOOK PROBLEM
“Stronger relationships with those you love, a stronger economy with more opportunities, and a stronger society that reflects all of our values " Facebook Says.

But it's seldom true

The internet could provide information & discussion of major critical scientific issues like climate change, sea level rise, age dating, conservation, etc. These are met by a tsunami of responses: 1. Acceptance of the post leading to discussion; 2. Polite criticism of the idea, allowing discussion; and 3. Nasty, mean, repulsive, even threatening, posts by trolls who wish to trash the original topic and author by name-calling, demands to leave the state or FB, reference to conspiracy websites for support, criticism of the author’s employer, and a multitude of other slanderous posts. Because of number 3, FB commonly deletes the entire thread of the discussion, thus anti-science & misinformation win.

We should deal with negative posts by replying with evidence or a question done politely and with grace. Insist that the posters present an alternative hypothesis that accounts for the evidence. You can’t win, but other readers may learn. Should your thread be taken down, object to the administrator of the FB page with a comment that the topic and its solutions are based on demonstrated scientific evidence, not personal opinion or politics. Suggest that the negative and nasty posts be deleted, thus eliminating objections to entire thread.

This is a continuing and developing problem influencing a large number of people. And AI will likely complicate these issues as it becomes more widely used.
And of course, this kind of stuff occurs in many science discussions on all internet--FB, Twitter sometimes referred to X, Instagram, etc.)

I will discuss the geologic issues at the upcoming Geological Society of America meeting on the afternoon of Sunday, September 22:

05/28/2021

Trump’s shrinking of Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante reserves may be reversed — ensuring archaeological and fossil treasures are preserved for study.

08/18/2019

Bruce Hayward is responsible for identifying fossil sites that could be parallel parks throughout New Zealand. His paper on these appears in the PaleoParks: Preservation of Fossil Sites Worldwide which is available online. Search title to get it. Now Bruce has made another valuable contribution to paleontology and possible Palio parks in his new book.

Here’s a great new Geology and paleontology book about New Zealand or at least the northern part of it. It’s called “Out of the ocean, into the fire” and was written by Joseph Cushman awardee Bruce Hayward. As usual he has done a very thorough job with lots of illustrations of geological materials including fossils. Congratulations to Bruce Hayward

07/27/2019

Rancho La Brea, Los Angeles, CA. A fantastic paleopark in the waiting. Already protected but that is exactly what we need in PaleoParks.