Wheeler Shale, Geological formation in Utah, United States.
Wheeler Shale is a rock formation in Utah made up of thin layers of dark gray shale stacked one on top of another. The layers are exposed across the Wheeler Amphitheater and hold fossils of ancient sea creatures preserved within the stone.
The formation took shape around 507 million years ago when a shallow sea covered what is now the interior of North America. As the water retreated, the remains of sea life became locked between settling layers of mud that slowly turned to stone.
Wheeler Shale is one of the few places in the world where trilobite fossils are visible right at the surface, without any digging. Visitors often crouch down to look at the dark flat slabs scattered across the ground.
The site is reached via Death Canyon Road, where marked parking areas and information signs are available on arrival. The ground is uneven in places, so sturdy footwear makes it easier to move around and look at the exposed layers.
Elrathia kingii, the trilobite most commonly found here, is collected in such large numbers that it is sold commercially around the world. Many of the trilobite specimens seen in souvenir shops across the US come from this very area.
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