Books
 |
Metal Detectors
 |
| Garrett GTI 2500 |
Prospecting Tools
 |
Outdoor Gear
 |
Radios
 |
GPS
 |
Power Inverters
 |
Fun Stuff
 |
Clocks
 |
Location: From Barstow, take the Ft. Irwin rd. north from old highway 58. Approximately 5.5 miles north you will see Fossil Bed rd. turning northwest. From there just look for the sign to the basin about 3 miles down the road.
This famous fossil area was declared a National Landmark in 1972. It is famous for its mammalian fossils. The fossils found here include saber tooth tigers, hyena-like dogs, horses, tortoises, gulls, hawks, camels, ducks, mastodons, rhinos, and a wide variety of insects.
Approximately 12 to 16 million years ago this area was much wetter than it is today. There were numerous lakes and grasslands covering the area. The fossils are contained in the lake deposits that makeup the colorful tilted beds seen in the basin. One of the first studies published on the fossils seen in the region was written by John C. Merriam titled Tertiary Mammalian Faunas of the Mojave Desert published by the University of California Press in 1919.
The road through the basin is a very narrow, graded gravel road. I would not recommend that the short drive be made by RV's or vehicles towing a trailer because of many sharp turns within the basin. That said, my first visit to the area was with the Geology department of the Santa Barbara City College in the 1970's. We made the trip in a school bus so I guess it can be done. There is a campground near the entrance called Owl Canyon campground. Obviously, there is no collecting allowed in the basin.
References: Desert Gem Trails by Mary Frances Strong, 1966 and Adventuring in the California Desert by Lynne Foster.
Try our geology book selections. You can find them at our store geology book store page.
