Fossils

            The great basin wilds of west central Nevada are rich in productive fossil plant localities. While probably not as well known as other plant fossil localities in Washington, Oregon, Wyoming, and Montana, Aldrich hill, in Yerington Nevada, continue to yield many excellently preserved paleobotanical remains. One of the most interesting and rewarding leaf and seed yielding areas are near the center of the Aldrich Station Formation, at Aldrich Hill.
             Geologists have collected some 35 species of ancient plant life from the Middle Miocene Aldrich Station Formation; a geologic rock unit dated roughly 13 to 12.5 million years old. Among the many fossil plant remains found at Aldrich Hill, are complete carbonized leaves from an Evergreen live Oak, in addition to many conifer winged seeds and even giant sequoia foliage. All of the fossil plants are exposed on the north side of the rock unit. Out stations of this plant bearing strata can be examined along the main wash, which trends generally east to west across the open side. Other exposures can be also found in the minor erosion gullies that jut out through the north side. .
             If a microscope if is available, you can find remains of an especially prolific fossil type, the diatom. This microscopic single celled plant lived in the rocks of the middle to late Miocene age, roughly 17 to 5 million yeas ago. The scientific extraction of diatoms for paleobotanical study is a dangerous operation, involving powerful acids. Most diatoms form Aldrich Hill resembles minute boxcars and discs. .
             The sedimentary rocks at Aldrich Hill provide proof that roughly 13 to 12.5 million years ago an extensive giant Sequoia forest reigned over what is presently an arid great basin of sage and pinyon pine. Along with these great trees, grew such plant varieties as brewer spruce white fir, western hemlock, evergreen live oak, a scene that would resemble the modern day humid western slopes of the Sierra Nevada's.