Mowry Shale facts for kids

Mancos Shale and Mowry shale oil and gas fields within the Uinta Basin and Piceance Basin

Stratigraphic column showing the relationship of the Mancos and Mowry shales

The Mowry Shale is a special type of rock layer. Scientists call it a geologic formation. It formed a very long time ago, during the Late Cretaceous period. This was about 100 to 66 million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth!

What is the Mowry Shale?

The Mowry Shale is a rock unit made mostly of a fine-grained rock called shale. It was first named by N. H. Darton in 1904. He named it after Mowrie Creek, which is a stream located northwest of Buffalo in Johnson County, Wyoming.

Where Can You Find It?

This rock formation is found in many parts of the western United States. You can see it on the surface or deep underground. It stretches across several states, including Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

The Mowry Shale is present in many large geological areas. These areas include big basins and uplifts. Some of these are the Big Horn Basin, Denver Basin, Powder River Basin, and Williston Basin. It's also found in the Green River Basin and near the Uinta Uplift.

Ancient Life in the Mowry Shale

Scientists have found some amazing things preserved in the Mowry Shale. These include Dinosaur remains! These fossils help us learn about the types of creatures that lived during the Late Cretaceous period. Finding these remains helps scientists understand more about ancient life and environments.

Images for kids

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  Mowry Shale exposed in a road cut, Uintah Basin, Utah.