2.9" Polished Cut Slab Of Fossil Turritella Shells Eocene Age Wyoming Gastropod Shells
Location: Wyoming, United States
Weight: 2 Ounces
Dimensions: 2.9 Inches Long, 1.5 Inches Wide, 0.3 Inches Thick
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Fossil Turritella shells found in Wyoming are primarily associated with the Eocene Green River Formation, specifically the "Turritella beds" within its Wilkins Peak Member. These gastropod shells, belonging to the genus Turritella, are characterized by their high-spired, conical shape and numerous whorls. The abundance of these shells in certain layers indicates ancient shallow marine or brackish water environments that supported large populations of these filter-feeding snails
The presence of Turritella fossils in Wyoming provides significant insights into the paleogeography and paleoecology of the region during the Eocene epoch. The Green River Formation itself is renowned for its exceptional preservation of fossils, including fish, insects, and plants, due to the anoxic conditions of the ancient lakes that formed there. The Turritella beds represent a specific facies within this lacustrine system, suggesting periods of marine incursions or brackish water conditions within what was predominantly a freshwater lake environment. The study of these fossil shells, including their morphology and distribution, helps paleontologists reconstruct the ancient ecosystems and understand the environmental changes that occurred in Wyoming millions of years ago.
