On Wednesday my science class visited the Hall of Paleontology at HMNS. There were many different fossils and objects that I found very interesting.
The first portion of the exhibit had some Stromatolites and an astounding number of Trilobites. Stromatolites are the oldest existing evidence of life on Earth. This exhibit supposedly has one of the top five largest Trilobite collections. There were many Trilobite fossils and Trilobite imprints.
Left: Some Trilobite fossils and prints.
Once we passed the section with fossils from the earliest life, we ventured on to the rest of the exhibit which had many fossils, fossil imprints, and entire skeletons of dinosaurs and other animals. There were some authentic fossils but there were also some models. If you see metal framework supporting the skeleton, it is likely authentic.
I found the "Zuhl Collection" to be very interesting. This portion of the exhibit had fossilized sections of tree trunks that are millions of years old. When the tree died, it was petrified instead of rotting away. For a trunk to petrify, it must be buried and exclude oxygen. The chemical reactions that cause the wood to decay do not occur if there is no oxygen. Volcanic sediment was rich in soluble silica. The silica dissolved into the water that the trees were soaked in and when the water evaporated, it left behind the solid silica. The end result is an amazing colorful petrified tree trunk.- Right: Petrified Oak Trunk
Overall, the trip to the HMNS Paleontology Hall was very informative and enjoyable. I'd like to learn more about the early aquatic animals featured at this exhibit. I'm looking forward to my next visit to the Paleontology Hall. Thank you Dr. Ott!
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