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The Green River Stone Company's
private quarry lies in the heart
of Fossil Lake's sedimentary deposits,
a fantastic accumulation of fossil
rich stone. As the fossil beds
are quarried, overburden must
be removed to access the deposit.
Each spring, tons of unproductive
earth and stone are bulldozed
away to reveal the most celebrated
fossil fish layers, which lie
about 60 feet below surface.
As weather permits, normally from
May into October, each layer of
rock is removed by hand, using
hammers, chisels, saws and shovels.
As stone is removed, the layer
below is scrutinized for evidence
of fossils encased within. By
angling the stone slab perpendicular
to the sun or using lanterns to
light the stone from the side,
subtle bas-relief patterns appear.
A trained eye can determine the
species of fish, its size, and
its orientation.
Over the years, we have developed
an unmatched knowledge of the characteristics of the various
sedimentary layers, and the
flora and fauna preserved
in them. |
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Fossils from our
quarry now hang in museums
and private collections around
the world, including countless
fish, several palm fronds,
freshwater rays, birds, a
52" long Trionyx turtle,
and a crocodile. Green River
Stone's Quarry Manager Jerome
Montgomery has a degree in
Geology, and has developed
an excellent eye for locating
treasures within the stone.
 
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