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U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service National Natural Landmarks Program l i Name: Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas Location: Jefferson County,Colorado Description: The Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas,situated amid spectacular geological landscapes,consist of five tracts located in and around Morrison and Golden,Colorado. Two tracts were designated the Morrison Fossil Area NNL in 1973,and three tracts in the Golden Fossil Area(North Golden,Triceratops Trail and School of Mines tracts)were designated in 2011 as an addition to create the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas NNL. The Morrison Fossil Area was the first major site of the discovery of giant dinosaur fossil bones in North America in the late 1800's,revealing the first quarries ever to produce iconic Jurassic dinosaurs including Stegosaurus,Apatosaurus and Allosaurus,as well as the crocodile Goniopholis. The best known mid- Cretaceous iguanodontid(Carirchnium)and 'ostrich'(Magnoavipes)dinosaur tracks in the western US are also found at this site,which gave rise to the now globally-recognized concept of the Dinosaur Freeway. The Morrison Fossil Area represents the scientific history of dinosaur bone and track research from 150 to 100 million years ago. The Morrison Formation,colorful variegated maroon,brown,and gray shales and sandstones,is exposed in hogbacks approximately 300 feet high. The 10-acre quarry site in the landmark's southern tract is located adjacent to the northern city limits of Morrison. The 50-acre northern tract is located approximately one-half mile north of Morrison. The North Golden`Early Bird'tract reveals the first fossil bird footprints(Ignotornis)ever discovered and formally named from the Mesozoic'age of dinosaurs' and the only outcroppings of the Golden Fault,a major Front Range geological feature. The other two Golden tracts reveal the first tracks ever discovered and formally named of horned dinosaurs(Ceratopsipes),champsosaurs(Champsosaurichnus)and Cretaceous mammals(Schadipes)and an abundance of plant fossils. These sites continue the story of the Mesozoic Era from where it left off, 100 million years ago in the Morrison Fossil Area,through to the end of the age of dinosaurs in Golden,65 million years ago. I Significance: t The Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas provide a trail through time for the late Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods ` that is unparalleled in the western US and unique globally. The sites reveal dinosaur and crocodile bones (four species new to science),bird,dinosaur and other reptile tracks(six species new to science),plant fossils and many other fossil and geological features. These visually-spectacular features are enhanced by the world famous history of the Morrison Formation dinosaurs and the equally world-renowned,and scientifically- named,fossil footprints from three of the five tracts. Natural Landmark Brief July 2011