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A major strength of the fossil collections acquired from museum paleontologist Greg Retallack is the precise geological and locality data that accompanies each specimen.  The most important piece of scientific information on a fossil is its exact location, because this enables detailed scientific work on such questions as paleoenvironmental change and rates of evolution. Fossils from Oregon, acquired largely on student field trips over the past three decades, have been collected within a modern geological framework and with benefit of accurate topographic maps and GPS technology. Photography by Joseph Davis. Images © UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Production of this gallery was generously supported by The Ford Family Foundation.

Clam, side one

Clam, side one
Venericardia aragonia
Glide, Oregon. Lookingglass Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P67686B

Clam, side two

Clam, side two
Venericardia aragonia
Glide, Oregon. Lookingglass Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P67686B

Crab in nodule

Crab in nodule
Pinnixia eocenica
Sunset Bay, Oregon, Coaledo Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P6781A-B

Ammonites and bivalves

Ammonites and bivalves
Discotropites sengeli and Halobia cordillerana
Suplee, Oregon. Brisbois member, Vester Formation
Late Triassic - Specimen #P6843

Ammonite

Ammonite
Sonninia washburnensis
Suplee, Oregon, Weberg mamber, Snowshoe Formation
Middle Jurassic - Specimen #P8558

Starfish

Starfish
Ophiocrossota baconi
Shore Acres, Oregon, Coaledo Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P9501

Nautiloid, side one

Nautiloid, side one
Aturia kerniana
Sunset Bay, Oregon, Coaledo Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P9546

Nautiloid, side two

Nautiloid, side two
Aturia kerniana
Sunset Bay, Oregon, Coaledo Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P9546

Fig leaf

Fig leaf
"Ficus" quisimbingi
Goshen, Oregon. Fisher Formation
Late Eocene - Specimen #P10030

Tabulate coral

Tabulate coral
Thamnopora cervicornis
Birdsong Hill, Oregon Birdsong Hill Limestone
Middle Devonian - Specimen #P10773A

Palm leaf

Palm leaf
Sabalites eocenica
Arbuckle Mountain, Oregon, Herren Formation
Paleocene - Specimen #10854A

Fern leaf, part one

Fern leaf, part one
Pecopteris paulinensis
Paulina, Oregon, Spotted Ridge Formation
Pennsylvanian - Specimen #P11027A

Fern leaf, part two

Fern leaf, part two
Pecopteris paulinensis
Paulina, Oregon, Spotted Ridge Formation
Pennsylvanian - Specimen #P11027A

Mudminnow

Mudminnow
Novumbra oregonensis
Fossil, Oregon, John Day Formation
Oligocene - Specimen #P11433A

Silicified brachiopods

Silicified brachiopods
Echinoconchus inexpectans
Paulina, Oregon Coyote Butte Formation
Early Permian - Specimen #P12645

Cycadeoid leaf

Cycadeoid leaf
Zamites buchianus
Rocky Point, Oregon, Rocky Point Formation
Early Cretaceous - Specimen #P13438

Leaf

Leaf
Castanea basidentata
Disston, Oregon, Little Butte Volcanics
Early Miocene - Specimen #P13694

Sand dollar

Sand dollar
Eoscutella coosensis
Cape Arago, Oregon Coaledo Formation
Middle Eocene - Specimen #P14169A

Large brachiopod

Large brachiopod
Striatifera striata
Paulina, Oregon, Coffee Creek Formation
Mississippian - Specimen #P14159