| Manti-La Sal Birdseye Marble Birdseye, UT US Uploaded By Scott (webmaster) Uploaded on Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 01:20:10 PM Viewed 5768 times |
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This land belongs to the Manti-La Sal National Forest and you can collect 2 to 3 pieces of birdseye marble without a permit. It polishes readily. For more information visit their website: It says: "Geologic Information: Approximately 58 to 66 million years ago (Paleocene epoch), a large body of water known as Lake Flagstaff covered parts of northeastern and central Utah. This lake deposited a sequence of sediments that formed rocks known as the Flagstaff Formation. Although these rocks are technically a limestone, the building stone industry has termed this deposit a “marble.” The rocks are rich in algal ball structures commonly known as “birdseyes.” These birdseye features were formed by algae that grew around snail shells, twigs, or other debris. The algae used these objects as a nucleus, forming into unusual, elongated, concentric shapes. How to get there: From Salt Lake City take I-15 south approximately 50 miles to Spanish Fork (exit 261). Travel east and proceed up Spanish Fork Canyon (Rte 6) for about 13.5 miles to Hwy 89. Make a right onto Hwy 89 and go south about 5.8 miles until you see a gravel road to your left. Make the left turn and proceed up the road until you reach a gate. This gate marks the beginning of Forest Service Road 126. Before you proceed up the road, remember to close the gate after yourself. Continue up this road for about 1.5 miles until you see a sign indicating that you have crossed into the Forest Service lands. Where to collect: Specimens can be found along the road just after crossing the Forest Service boundary. If you feel adventurous, this road can be followed up to the birdseye marble quarry (roughly 2.5 miles), but four-wheel drive is highly recommended. The Birdseye Quarry is currently under claim and collecting any material here is prohibited by the claim owner. Please respect any claim signs here or elsewhere.* Some of the birdseye marble contains cores of snail fossils, which have been replaced by the mineral calcite. This material takes a great polish and is ideal for making unusual decorative bookends." | From Salt Lake City take I-15 south approximately 50 miles to Spanish Fork (exit 261). Travel east and proceed up Spanish Fork Canyon (Rte 6) for about 13.5 miles to Hwy 89. Make a right onto Hwy 89 and go south about 5.8 miles until you see a gravel road to your left. At the entrance to the gravel road, a sign is posted for the Birdseye Marble Quarry, which is under claim and closed to all collecting. Don’t let this discourage you because the Birdseye Marble Quarry is not part of our “collecting area.” Turn left at the gravel road and proceed until you reach a gate. This gate marks the beginning of Forest Service Road 126. Before you proceed up the road, remember to close the gate after yourself. Continue up this road for about 1.5 miles until you see a sign indicating that you have crossed into the Forest Service lands. |