NO. 3 



SMITHSONIAN EXPLORATIONS, I915 



19 



After completing the investigation of the geyser and hot-spring 

 deposits, a trip was made to the Fossil Forest in the northeastern 

 section of the Park, in the Lamar River Valley. Large collections 

 were made of silicified wood and various minerals; one of the latter 

 being a remarkable and beautiful form of calcite rosettes (figs. 29, 

 30. 31. 32). 



Fig. 28. — Looking across Lamar River from the north to fossil forest ridge 

 2,500 feet above the valley. Ridge formed of great thickness of volcanic 

 breccia deposited in great layers at intervals sufficient to permit of growth of 

 coniferous forests. Stumps of fossil trees were measured 9 feet in diameter, 

 6 feet above their roots. Seven successive forests that had been destroyed by 

 volcanic deposits were seen in the clififs shown in this view. Walcott camp in 

 the foreground. Photograph by Walcott. 



Dr. Wherry, assistant curator, division of mineralogy and pe- 

 trology, U. S. National Museum, describes the calcite rosettes as 

 follows : 



The remarkable character of these specimens is illustrated by the photo- 

 graphs of four of them shown in figures 29, 30, 31, and 2>2. They consist of 



