What is a fossil?

As the dictionary states, a fossil is "a trace or impression or the remains of a plant or animal of a past geologic age preserved in the earth's crust."

The fossils seen in this exhibit are from the Sierra Nevada geologic province, and all are curated in the collection of the Sierra College Natural History Museum.

Click on the small images above to see them enlarged and get more information.

Note: in the information for each fossil, M.Y. stands for millions of years. The symbol ~ means that the years given are approximate.

You can also right click on the pc, or control/click on the Mac to zoom further.

Name: Mosasaur tooth (giant-sea-going lizard)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Oroville, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Palm Nut
Formation: Ione
Age: Late Iocene
M.Y. ~ 55
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Crinoid (sea-lily) Stem - a relative of the starfish
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Spa Urchin Spines
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granie Bay, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Bivalve
Formation:
Age: Jurassic
M.Y. ~ 150
Location: Taylorsville, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Bivalve (clam)
Formation: Mariposa
Age: Jurassic
M.Y. ~ 150
Location: Don Pedro Reservoir, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Tropical Oak Leaf
Formation: Mehrten
Age: Miocene
M.Y. ~ 25
Location: Donner Pass, CA
Found by: Ed Coutts/Vicki VanWhy

Name: Mosasaur skull fragment (giant-sea-going lizard)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Oroville, CA
Found by: Eric Gohre

Name: Sea Turtle Scapula (shoulder bone)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Pterosaur wing bone (giant flying reptile)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Oroville, CA
Found by: Eric Gohre

Name: Cinnanonum Leaf
Formation: Ione
Age: Iocene
M.Y. ~ 55
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: James Eisert

Name: Dinoasuar rib fragment
Formation: Trail
Age: Jurassic
M.Y. ~ 150
Location: Taylorsville, CA
Found by: Jeoff Christe

Name: Ammonites (relatives of chambered nautilus, squid, and octopus)
Formation: Mariposa
Age: Jurassic
M.Y. ~ 150
Location: Don Pedro Reservoir, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Live Oak Leaf
Formation: Mehrten
Age: Miocene
M.Y. ~ 10
Location: Rocklin, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Nautiloid Shell (relative of squid and octopus)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late K
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Mammoth tooth fragment
Formation: Turlock Lake?
Age: Pleistocene
M.Y. ~ 1
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Guy Roland

Name: Fossil Pine Needles
Formation: Mehrten
Age: Miocene
M.Y. ~ 10
Location: Roseville, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Fossil Leaves
Formation:
Age: Miocene
M.Y. ~
Location: Boomtown NPU
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Opalized wood from semi-tropical Sierran Forest
Formation: Ione
Age: Iocene
M.Y. ~ 55
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Horse Teech
Formation: Turlock Lake
Age: Pleistocene (Ice Age)
M.Y. ~ 1
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Marine Turtle Scapula (shoulder bone)
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Tree Fern Trunk
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Pat Antuzzi

Name: Bacculite (straight ammonite) - relative of squid and octopus
Formation: Chico
Age: Late Cretaceous
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Granite Bay, CA
Found by: Dick Hilton

Name: Honey Lake Deer
Formation: Chico
Age: Plesitocene
M.Y. ~ 70
Location: Honey Lake, CA
Found by: Ross Second