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Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County, California
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Next site in CaliforniaUSGS M1691, Santa Cruz · 0.6 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.
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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
0.6 miUSGS M1691, Santa CruzFossil1 miSanta Cruz 1Fossil2 miMoore CreekFossil

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About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is a fossil collection site in Santa Cruz, California, cataloged in the Paleobiology Database. Fossils here come from the Purisima Formation, dated to the Messinian (7.246–5.333 million years ago). The depositional environment is recorded as marine indet. Documented finds include Dusisiren dewana, Carcharodon hastalis, Dusignathus santacruzensis, Odontoceti.

Geologic setting

Formation
Purisima
Geologic interval
Messinian
Age
7.246–5.333 Ma
Depositional environment
marine indet.
Recorded occurrences
4

Fossils found here

Dusisiren dewana
Mammalia · Dugongidae
Carcharodon hastalis
Chondrichthyes · Lamnidae
Dusignathus santacruzensis
Mammalia · Odobenidae
Odontoceti
Mammalia

Records and references

Data: Paleobiology Database collection 52217 (CC BY 4.0) — view the source record

Getting there

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Questions about Santa Cruz

Can you collect at Santa Cruz?

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 Santa Cruz?

Fossil.

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What to bring

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Source: Paleobiology Database.