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| Day tripper: Mining the Miocene |
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| Written by Tara Roberts — Summer Arg | ||||||
| Thursday, 25 May 2006 | ||||||
Take a drive on the twisting, lonely highways of the eastern Palouse
until you find yourself outside Clarkia. Just past the half-mile
motocross track, look for a big sign for trophy sales and the smaller,
metal sign on it: “Fossil Dig – Information – Visitors Center.” Take
the left and wait in the driveway. This is it — the Clarkia Miocene Lake fossil site. It may not seem like
the place you’d expect to find geological treasures, but within one of
the racetrack’s outer walls are the remains of 15-million-year-old
plants, insects and fish, buried in the sediments of an ancient lake.Expect to be greeted by two dogs and a polite, round-faced little boy who dashes inside to get his dad. Kenneth Kienbaum is one of the proprietors of the fossil beds, and some of the best fossils are in a display case in the heart of his shop. You’re on your way to finding some of these, too — once you’re prepared with butter knives and a stack of newspapers and boxes, drive down the road and park directly below the bank. About 20 feet up, there are distinct layers of rock and clay. Climb up and pry loose a piece, then gently press your knife between the layers and peel them apart. It won’t be long until a leaf hits the air and oxidizes, leaving its perfect black imprint on the rock in your hand. One of the tragedies of dealing with such delicate material is that many leaves are discovered, only to crumble in your hands. Never fear, though. Not only are the Clarkia fossils remarkably well-preserved, they’re also abundant. A fish is a prize, but you’re guaranteed to walk away with leaves.  Fossils of leaves and flowers can be found in the Clarkia Miocene Lake fossil beds. Dig permits can be purchased for eight dollars at the site. In the heat of the day, it’s a good idea to pack a lunch and a huge water bottle and take a break in the shade. Don’t be surprised if Francis Kienbaum rolls up on his four-wheeler to visit. When it comes to the fossils, Francis knows the whole story, so be sure to ask him some questions. When he was building the racetrack 35 years ago, Francis cleared an area with his tractor and noticed some strange sediment layers. Realizing it was something interesting, he left the bank alone. Soon he noticed black leaves all over the ground. On his second call to the University of Idaho, Francis spoke with a young receptionist who tried to figure out what, exactly, he had found. Francis had studied engineering, not geology, and was frustrated by the woman’s questions. “She asked me how old they were,” he says. “I said, ‘Two weeks.’” A few days later, Francis was on his tractor and saw a “wiry dude” marching angrily toward him. The man climbed up on his tractor blade and began yelling that Francis must have tried to destroy the fossils. After calming the man down, Francis learned he was Jack Smiley, a paleobotanist from UI who had come to find out what was in the bank. This encounter was the beginning of a long scientific relationship that included intense and famous research into the findings. One of Francis’ greatest frustrations is the lack of academic attention paid to his find in recent years. After Smiley left the university and later died, strictly scientific interest in the fossils waned, despite the uniqueness of the find and the fact that some of the fossils actually contain extractable, though fragmented, DNA. “All the easy stuff’s been found,” Francis says. “The hard stuff is left.” UI’s Tertiary Research Institute continues to investigate the fossils, though UI affiliate geology professor and Tertiary director Bill Rember said the scope of the project is limited. “There isn’t an awful lot of funding here,” Rember says. Rember says the site is a unique find, particularly because the organic components of the leaves remain. The site is what paleontologists call a Lagerstatten, Rember says, because it contains a large number of “exquisitely preserved” fossils. The site is still a popular stop for school groups, including UI geology classes and a UI Youth Programs class, “Fossils, Families and Fun!” Because of its accessibility, affordability and pure coolness, it’s also an ideal trip for anyone looking to fill up a long summer day. “It’s unlimited,” Rember says. “It’s just a real unique opportunity to see wonderful fossils.” Clarkia fossil bed Cost: $8 per person plus travel Distance: about 50 miles from Moscow Wear: Good shoes, long pants Bring: Sunscreen, water, newspaper, butter knives, boxes (tools also available at site) More info/map: www.clarkiafossilbowl.com/ fossils, www.uidaho.edu/tertiary, “Late Cenozoic history of the Pacific Northwest : interdisciplinary studies on the Clarkia fossil beds of northern Idaho” by C.J. Smiley.  Add as favorites (142) | Views: 5099
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