Antelope Valley Limestone facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Antelope Valley Limestone Stratigraphic range: Ordovician Period
Antelope Valley Limestone (Meiklejohn Peak, Nevada)
Type	Geologic formation
Unit of	Pogonip Group
Underlies	Copenhagen Formation
Overlies	Ninemile Formation
Thickness	1,100 feet (340 m)
Lithology
Primary	Limestone
Location
Region	Nevada
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	Antelope Valley (Nevada)

The Antelope Valley Limestone is a special type of rock layer found in southern Nevada, United States. It's part of a larger group of rocks called the Pogonip Group. This rock layer is important because it contains many fossils of ancient sea creatures that lived millions of years ago.

Discovering the Antelope Valley Limestone

The Antelope Valley Limestone is a geologic formation. This means it's a distinct layer of rock that geologists can identify and map. It's mostly made of limestone.

What is Limestone?

Limestone is a common type of rock. It often forms from the shells and skeletons of tiny sea animals. Over long periods, these bits settle at the bottom of oceans and get pressed together. This creates the solid rock we call limestone.

Where Can You Find It?

The Antelope Valley Limestone is named after the Antelope Valley region. You can find it in two counties in Nevada: Eureka County and Nye County.

How Old is This Rock?

The fossils found in the Antelope Valley Limestone tell us it formed during the Ordovician Period. This was a very long time ago, roughly between 485 and 443 million years ago! During the Ordovician, much of North America was covered by shallow seas. This is why we find fossils of sea creatures in these rocks.

What Fossils Does it Hold?

This rock layer is famous for preserving fossils. These are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life. Scientists study these fossils to learn about the plants and animals that lived during the Ordovician Period. They can also learn about what the environment was like back then.