4.2" Polished Cut Slab Of Fossil Turritella Shells Eocene Age Wyoming Gastropod Shells
Location: Wyoming, United States
Weight: 10.9 Ounces
Dimensions: 4.2 Inches Long, 3.1 Inches Wide, 0.6 Inches Thick
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Fossil Turritella shells from Wyoming are most commonly found within the Eocene Green River Formation, particularly in the Wilkins Peak Member, where distinctive layers known as the Turritella beds occur. These fossils belong to the gastropod genus Turritella, recognizable by their elongated, high-spired shells composed of numerous tightly coiled whorls.
The concentration of Turritella shells in specific stratigraphic layers suggests periods when shallow marine or brackish-water conditions prevailed. Such environments were well-suited to these filter-feeding snails, allowing them to thrive in large numbers. The presence of these shell-rich horizons provides important evidence for changing water chemistry and environmental conditions within the Green River lake system during the Eocene epoch.
The occurrence of Turritella fossils in Wyoming offers valuable evidence for understanding the region’s Eocene paleoenvironments and paleogeographic history. These fossils are found within the Green River Formation, a world-famous deposit known for its remarkable preservation of fish, insects, plants, and other organisms, made possible by the low-oxygen conditions of ancient lake systems.
The presence of Turritella shell beds within this formation represents a distinct sedimentary facies, indicating intervals when marine or brackish conditions temporarily influenced an otherwise freshwater lacustrine environment. Such conditions may reflect marine incursions, changing lake chemistry, or shifts in regional climate and hydrology.
Detailed study of the shell morphology, abundance, and spatial distribution of these fossils allows paleontologists to reconstruct ancient lake dynamics and track environmental transitions that occurred in Wyoming during the Eocene, shedding light on how ecosystems responded to long-term geological and climatic change.
