Moorpark College Geology Dept. Field trip to This page contains approximately 2.3 megabytes of data - Scroll down for all the pictures

The cinder cone and lava fields of Amboy Crater are a necessary stop on the way to the Marble Mountains. We set up camp at the base of the hills northeast of Cadiz.. A hearty breakfast and then it's off to hunt TRILOBITES! Approaching the Marble Mountains heading Northeast from Chambless Knowing which dirt road to take is very important. There are many roads but only one get's you near the locality. Park along the road just where it widens enough to turn around. you can see the Latham Shale sandwiched between the dark brown Zabriskie Quartzite and the gray blocks of Chambless Limestone. The pinkish patch in the center of the image is the talus pile formed from years of collecting. Hiking from the road to the outcrop can be treacherous. Watch your step.

Find a comfortable spot on the tailings and start looking for those Trilobites! With a little patience, you are sure to find some TRILOBITE FOSSILS! With a little luck, you might find a complete specimen like this Olenellus clarki. Here are four more examples of Olenellus clarki trilobites from the Latham shale. March 2005. The desert was very green after a particularly wet winter. Keep an eye on the sun; give yourself plenty of time to get back before it gets too dark. Sunsets in the desert are amazing. Be sure to catch one while you are there. Amboy cindercone is seen in the distance. Enjoying the desert night.