North Horn Formation, Geological formation in central Utah, United States.
North Horn Formation is a geological layer system in central and eastern Utah composed of alternating bands of sandstone, siltstone, and shale. The rocks reveal how the landscape and environment changed during the transition from the Age of Dinosaurs to the age that followed.
These layers formed at the end of the Cretaceous period roughly 100 to 66 million years ago. They document the geological transition from the Maastrichtian age into the early Paleocene.
Scientists regularly study this formation to understand prehistoric ecosystems through its extensive collection of dinosaur, mammal, and plant fossils.
The main exposure is on North Horn Mountain in Emery County and can be reached by several hiking trails. Wear sturdy footwear and be prepared for the elevation of the area.
The layers contain fossils showing the shift from dinosaur-dominated to mammal-dominated ecosystems. More than 70 different species appear in the Paleocene strata alone.
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