HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems
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HARTMAN MULTIMEDIA
Nature Based Multimedia Information Systems |
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Rainbow Basin Natural Area This area, fully protected, is one of the most important
sites in the country for Miocene vertebrate fossils.
They are found in the Barstow formation, a non-marine sedimentary with
sandstone, fanglomerate, silt-stone and shale as well as minor amounts of fine
volcanic debris. These sediments
were deposited in lakes streams, and other wetlands that were occasionally
subjected to volcanic dust and ash falls. Here,
this formation is some 1,500 meters (5,000 feet) thick. Among the numerous vertebrates discovered here are
dog-bears, Hemicyonids, several horses, Hypohippus, Merychippus spp., and
Archeophippus, pronghorns, Merycodus, peccaries, Byseohyus, several oreodonts,
Brachycrus and Ustatochoerus, sabre-toothed cats, Machairodus, true cats,
Pseudaelurus, mastodon, Gomphotherium (the first record in the State), camels,
Hesperocamelus, as well as numerous other mammals and birds.
Among the birds are fossil hawks, ducks, gulls and a quail-like bird, Cyrtonyx. There are also fossil
tortoises and fresh-water molluscs. Fossil plants are sparse but palms were
present. Today the vegetation cover is creosote bush scrub. The
rare plant, Psorothamnus arborescens, is found in the area. Integrity: The
area is protected as a State Park and Bureau of Land Management Natural Area.
The remainder is private. Use: Observational. Ref: Merriam,
J. C. 1919.
Tertiary Mammalian Faunas of the Mohave Desert.
Univ. of Calif. Dept. Geol. March 1976
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