DINOSAUR NATIONAL MONUMENT: A GEOLOGIC PARADISE IN NEED OF RESEARCHERS
While Dinosaur National Monument is very well known for its dinosaur fauna, little work has taken place elsewhere in the monument’s long geologically exposed outcrops. There are 23 geologic units exposed within the monument, spanning 1.2 billion years of geologic time and representing one of the most complete stratigraphic columns exposed within the National Park System. Of these 23 units, one is Precambrian, seven are Paleozoic (only missing the Ordovician, Silurian and Devonian), 13 are Mesozoic, and two are Cenozoic in age. Dinosaur National Monument contains at least five caves. There are 13 geologic units that are limestone/carbonates and are likely to exhibit karstic characteristics and processes.
The park is in search of researchers interested in undertaking paleontological, karst, structural, hydrological, geomorphologic, dendrochronologic, and geologic hazards questions.