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Moore Creek

Santa Cruz County, California
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Next site in CaliforniaSanta Cruz · 2 mi

Can I collect here?

Pro
See who owns this land and whether it is claimedPro shows the owner, the claim on this spot and every claim within a mile.
Read the collecting rules by land type

Based on our latest records, with claims updated from the BLM on Oct 9, 2026. Land and claims can change quickly, so check before you go.

Minerals on record here

1 mineral

Recorded here: fossil.

Nearby sites

All of California
2 miSanta CruzFossil2 miSanta CruzFossil2 miUSGS M1691, Santa CruzFossil

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About Moore Creek

Moore Creek is a fossil collection site in Santa Cruz, California, cataloged in the Paleobiology Database. Fossils here come from the Santa Margarita Formation, dated to the Tortonian (11.63–7.246 million years ago). The depositional environment is recorded as marine indet. Documented finds include Imagotaria downsi, Smilodonichthys.

Geologic setting

Formation
Santa Margarita
Geologic interval
Tortonian
Age
11.63–7.246 Ma
Depositional environment
marine indet.
Recorded occurrences
2

Fossils found here

Imagotaria downsi
Mammalia · Odobenidae
Smilodonichthys
Osteichthyes · Salmonidae

Records and references

Data: Paleobiology Database collection 59161 (CC BY 4.0) — view the source record

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Questions about Moore Creek

Can you collect at Moore Creek?

It depends on who owns the land and whether a mining claim covers it. BLM land usually allows hand collecting for personal use, national parks allow none, and private land needs the owner’s permission. Pro members see the owner and any claims at this spot.

What minerals are found at Moore Creek?

Fossil.

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Source: Paleobiology Database.