An inventory of paleontological resources associated with National Park Service caves
Santucci VL, Kenworthy J, Kerbo R. 2001. An inventory of paleontological resources associated with National Park Service caves. NPS/NRGRD/GRDTR-01/02, NPS D-2231. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Geological Resources Division. Lakewood, Colorado
There are more than 3600 caves and karst resources in at least 79 units of the National Park System. The NPS Geologic Resources Division has documented 35 park areas with paleontological resources that have preserved fossils. Within limestones in caves, the remains of marine invertebrate and vertebrate fossils are typically preserved. Paleozoic limestones are the parent rock in which many cave and karst features develop in NPS areas, and therefore Paleozoic fossils are the most common type of paleontological resource associated with caves. But caves also form from lava flows, wave action, and by fracturing of rock. Pleistocene and Holocene vertebrate remains are abundant in many caves. Fossil bone can develop either through the accumulation of remains associated with organisms inhabiting the cave, or through a variety of transport mechanisms. Fossil remains preserved in a various geologic contexts have been identified in over 150 units of the National Park System.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Santucci, Vincent; Kenworthy, Jason; Kerbo, Ron
- Date of Issue
- 2001-09
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Geological Resources Division
- Units
- AMIS , ARCH , BELA , BIBE , BICA , BUFF , CACH , CAVE , CEBR , CHCH , CHIS , COLO , CORO , CRMO , CUGA , GLCA , GRBA , GRCA , GUMO , HALE , JECA , LABE , LAKE , MACA , NATR , ORCA , OZAR , TICA , VAFO , WICA , WICR , YELL
- Keywords
- Fossils, Karst, Paleontology, rock shelter