Marble Mountains (San Bernardino County) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marble Mountains |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 685 m (2,247 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 34°36′56.983″N 115°33′44.967″W / 34.61582861°N 115.56249083°W |
| Topo map | USGS Cadiz |
The Marble Mountains are a mountain range in the sunny Mojave Desert in California. These mountains are part of the Mojave Trails National Monument. They are located in San Bernardino County, California.
Where Are the Marble Mountains?
The Marble Mountains are found in a desert area of California. They are just north of a small town called Cadiz, California. To the south, you'll find Bristol Dry Lake and Amboy, California.
Other mountain ranges surround them. The Old Woman Mountains are to the east. The Bullion Mountains are to the west. To the southeast, you can see the Sheep Hole Mountains and the town of Twentynine Palms, California.
Ancient Life: Trilobite Fossils
Get ready for a trip back in time! The Marble Mountains are famous for their amazing fossils. These fossils are found in layers of sedimentary rock. This rock formed from sand and mud over millions of years.
The Marble Mountains Fossil Beds are a special place. Here, scientists have found fossils that are about 550 million years old! These ancient fossils belong to creatures called trilobites. Trilobites were sea animals that lived long before dinosaurs. They were some of the first animals on Earth to have eyes and hard skeletons. Finding these fossils helps us learn about life from a very, very long time ago.
Trilobite Wilderness Area
The Marble Mountains are protected as part of the Trilobite Wilderness. This special area was created in 1994 by the U.S. Congress. A wilderness area is a place where nature is kept wild and untouched. It helps protect the land, plants, and animals.
The Trilobite Wilderness covers a large area of 37,308 acres. That's bigger than many cities! The Bureau of Land Management helps take care of this wilderness. They make sure it stays wild for everyone to enjoy and for the ancient fossils to be safe.
