August 14, 2014 BOARD MATTER F-3. Annual Reporting for Non-Exclusive Scientific Fossil Removal Permit FRP-00333S INFORMATIONAL ONLY

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1 August 14, 2014 BOARD MATTER F-3 ACTION: AUTHORITY: Annual Reporting for Non-Exclusive Scientific Fossil Removal Permit FRP-00333S INFORMATIONAL ONLY W.S ; Board of Land Commissioners Rules and Regulations, Chapter 11, Section 14(d) ANALYSIS: The attached annual report for Non-Exclusive Scientific Fossil Removal Permit FRP-00333S is submitted for Board of Land Commissioners review: LEASE NO. APPLICANT DESCRIPTION ACRES COUNTY FRP-00333S South Dakota School SE ; Crook of Mines and N Technology

2 Paleontological Investigations at the Little Houston Quarry, Crook County, Wyoming Report of Activities 2013 State of Wyoming Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners State Lands Non-Exclusive Scientific Fossil Removal Permit #FRP SE ¼, SectionS, T5ON-R64W; N 1/2, Section 18, T5ON-R64W Dr. Danin Pagnac Museum of Geology South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

3 Background The Little Houston Quarry (SDSM V91 38) is located approximately 13 miles west of Sundance, Wyoming, on Interstate 90, near mile marker 173. The fill legal description is recorded in museum records as NW, SW, NE, Sec. 18, T.50 N., R.64 W, Linden 7.5 minute quad. (1984) (Fig. 1). Fossil material occurs in several silt and clay layers in the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation. Dinosaurs are the primary faunal constituents and include the theropods Allosaurus and Ceralosaurus, the sauropods Camarasaurus, Barosaurus, and Apatosaurus, the ornithopods Oshnielia and Stegosaurus. Microfossils include lungfish, amphibians, lizards, champsosaurs, crocodilians, turtles, and one of the most diverse assemblages of Jurassic mammals in North America. Figure 1: Portion of Linden 7.5 minute topographic map with the location of Little Houston Quarry indicated in red. Analysis of the lithostratigraphy of the site has led to interpretations of fluvial (river) deposition. The site is believed to have been deposited under a periodically active and abandoned river channel system. A channel sandstone low in the stratigraphic section indicates the presence of active stream deposition. Overlying layers consist of varying silty clays suggesting deposition under an abandoned stream channel or oxbow lake. Reactivation of the channel occurred later as indicated by a second channel sandstone exposed near the top of the section. Fossil remains are concentrated in distinct layers which occur between the channel sands.

4 Goals for the 2013 Season The goals for the quarry in the 2013 season were the same as those outlined in the 2011 report. The Museum of Geology did not open the quarry during the 2012 season. 1. Removal of the large slab ofbonejust south of EBG 1101 (removed in 2011) 2. Continued use of the site for field paleontology classes and Family Paleontology programs 3. Continued exploration of the western edge of the quarry where previously exposed material has remained since the seasons. 4. Continued and successful cooperation with the Wyoming Department of Transportation Season Synopsis The 2013 season was brief. With my doctoral student, Michael Calvello, as a field assistant we arrived at the quany on Monday, July 15. We then spent three days re-opening the quarry, removing the backfill we buried it with at the close of the 2011 season. Conditions were especially wet during the 2013 season, and we lost several days to rain and wet conditions. Despite these setbacks we managed to make a little progress. The quarry was once again utilized for educational and outreach purposes. Three students attended the two-week camps offered through the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, one undergraduate and two graduate students (Appendix I). We also utilized the quany during our Museum of Geology headed Family Field Paleontology courses. Three participants joined us for five days during the early part of the season (Appendix I). The quarry was closed for the season on Friday, August 2. Most of our work focused on accomplishing Goals I and 3 listed above. We were able to remove a large slab of bone that we Figure 1: Doctoral student Mike Calvello jacketing EBG 1306.

5 had covered with plaster at the close of the 2011 season. This element (EBG 1306) appears to a portion of the pubis (pelvic bone) of a sauropod dinosaur (Fig. 1). We also spent considerable time trying to isolate a series of articulated caudal (tail) vertebrae of the sauropod dinosaur Camarasaurus. These vertebrae were in an area of the quarry that has an exceedingly high concentration of bone. We were not able to isolate these vertebrae, let alone remove them, during the 2013 season. By far the most significant fmd of the season was EBO 1301, a portion of an Allosaurus tooth (Fig. 2). Allosaurus is one of the largest predatory dinosaurs from this time period (Fig. 3). Teeth of this taxon are reasonably common, as they constantly shed and replaced them throughout their lifetime. However, fmding one is still very exhilarating, particularly to our student and amateur participants. a Figure 2: Close-up shot of EBG 1301, an Allosaurus tooth, still encased in matrix.,. ~ Allosarinssfnrnilis Figure 3: Skeletal anatomy ofallosaurusfragilis.

6 The 2013 season was extremely wet. We had planned to be at the quarry for three weeks, but ended up spending only eight days at the quarry due to heavy rains. In lieu of quarry work on the off days we spent some time relocating old sites in the Jurassic Morrison Fonnation between Sundance and Moorcroft, WY. Goals 2 and 4 listed above were also met. The quarry was once again utilized for field education and outreach, and we continue to have a successfiul working relationship with the Wyoming Department of Transportation. Six specimens were removed during the 2014 season and are currently reposited in the collections at the Museum of Geology, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (Appendix 11). No significant amount of new material was uncovered at the site this season. Removal of material was limited to specimens uncovered during previous seasons. The scale of quarrying operations was too small to illustrate on a standard topographic map, but refer to Figure 1 for the location of the quarry. Goals for the 2014 Season The Musewn of Geology will likely not return to Little Houston Quarry during the summer of Projects elsewhere in South Dakota require Dr. Pagnac s attention. We still wish to hold an active collecting permit and will likely renew our existing one in The site still remains an invaluable tool for research and education, and the abundance of fossil material still present at the site ensures continued utilization of the quarry for several seasons. Acknowledgements As always, I d like to thanic Dianna Wolvin and the Wyoming Department of Transportation for their continued support and assistance. The City of Sundance, WY, continues to share their hospitality and enthusiasm for our ongoing efforts. Bernie and Joanne Cogan at Mountain View Campground always provide excellent accommodations during our stays in the area. Michael Calvello proved to be an excellent field assistant and knowledgeable parmer in the field. I thank you all for your efforts and support.

7 APPENDIX I: List of Participants Graduate Students Mike Calvello Reid Cumnins ijii&raraduate Students Alden Brady Family Paleontology Participants Bailey Elkins Sandra Foley-Smith Bill Jackson APPENDIX II: List of Specimens EBG- Dr. Danin Pagnac Field # Taxon Element EBG 1301 Allosaunis Partial tooth ERG 1302 Microveftebrate ERG 1303 Osteichthyes fm spine EBG 1304 Osteichthyes vertebra EBG 1305 Microfossil? ERG 1306 Sauropoda Partial pubis