Pioche Formation - Cambrian
This site is open to the public. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
It is very easy to find, about 12 miles south of Caliente, Nevada just off of US 93.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
Path
The parking area is a short drive from the highway. There are picnic tables and such at the parking lot. The path, bordered with rocks leads to the outcrops of the shale.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
We drove past the parking lot a short way and parked nearer to the outcrops.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
The area where we hunted is characterized by these barren exposures of broken shale.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
There is evidence of digging all over the place.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
Sure beats working!
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
Fragments of trilobites are quite prevalent. When splitting the shale, most of the time, the fossil ended up split between the two halves.
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
This one is about 2" across at the cephalon. A whole one this big would be a keeper!
Oak Springs Trilobite Area
This pygidium is one of the more interesting finds.
Happy Hunters
Plan to spend a whole day here if you want to have a chance at a complete bug.
I also think that digging up fresh slabs is more likely to produce results.
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