Day 5 (7/10/03) - Fossil Rainforest, Castle Rock, Colorado
Click on any photo to see a larger version

Beth Ellis, project leader for Castle Rock, and Bob Raynolds contemplate the geology of the area.

Beth Ellis, project leader for Castle Rock, and Bob Raynolds contemplate the geology of the area.

One of the best paleontology tools known to mankind - the backhoe!  Beth Ellis directs at left.

One of the best paleontology tools known to mankind - the backhoe! Beth Ellis directs at left.

One of our "tent cities" built from multiple tarps.  The sun was unbearable on this day at Castle Rock.  The tarps are both for the fragile fossils and the people excavating them!

One of our "tent cities" built from multiple tarps. The sun was unbearable on this day at Castle Rock. The tarps are both for the fragile fossils and the people excavating them!

Rod, Jane & Jim take a break from the digging while listening to Kirk Johnson explain the area.

Rod, Jane & Jim take a break from the digging while listening to Kirk Johnson explain the area.

A break in the digging while listening to Kirk Johnson explain the area.

A break in the digging while listening to Kirk Johnson explain the area.

Allison splits layers of rock removed from the quarry.

Allison splits layers of rock removed from the quarry.

Some of the gang show the incredible block of fossil leaves they pulled from the quarry.  You have a good feeling that you're dealing with a fossil rainforest when you find leaves that span from the ground to your knee!!!

Some of the gang show the incredible block of fossil leaves they pulled from the quarry. You have a good feeling that you're dealing with a fossil rainforest when you find leaves that span from the ground to your knee!!!

Kirk Johnson showing a particularly large Platunus with cuticle extracted from the quarries on this day.

Kirk Johnson showing a particularly large Platunus with cuticle extracted from the quarries on this day.

A nice leaf (see quarter for scale) showing detailed veins and cuticle.

A nice leaf (see quarter for scale) showing detailed veins and cuticle.

The crew remaining at the end of the day at Castle Rock, CO.

The crew remaining at the end of the day at Castle Rock, CO.

A photographer cannot resist fulfilled diggers at the end of the day!  In the north quarry, many nice specimens were discovered including these two show by the north quarry crew.

A photographer cannot resist fulfilled diggers at the end of the day! In the north quarry, many nice specimens were discovered including these two show by the north quarry crew.

An appropriate scene at the end of the day at Castle Rock!  The moon is beginning to rise over Castle Rock while at bottom, left - we are packing the vans full of Paleocene fossil leaves from the rainforest...

An appropriate scene at the end of the day at Castle Rock! The moon is beginning to rise over Castle Rock while at bottom, left - we are packing the vans full of Paleocene fossil leaves from the rainforest...