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USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm

Powell County, North Dakota
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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.

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About USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm

USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm is a fossil collection site in Powell, North Dakota, cataloged in the Paleobiology Database. Fossils here come from the Fort Union Formation, dated to the Paleocene (66–56 million years ago). The depositional environment is recorded as fluvial indet. Documented finds include Dennstaedtia americana, Thuja interrupta, Hicoria antiquora, Celtis aspera.

Geologic setting

Formation
Fort Union
Geologic interval
Paleocene
Age
66–56 Ma
Depositional environment
fluvial indet.
Recorded occurrences
4
Locality notes

At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene. In clinker about 200 feet above Missouri River.\r\nJA: originally entered as 47º 56' N, 12º 56' W with no county name or stated basis of coordinate; new coordinate based on historical locale of Keene in Powell County

Fossils found here

Dennstaedtia americana
Polypodiopsida · Dennstaedtiaceae
Thuja interrupta
NO_CLASS_SPECIFIED · Cupressaceae
Hicoria antiquora
NO_CLASS_SPECIFIED · Juglandaceae
Celtis aspera
NO_CLASS_SPECIFIED · Ulmaceae

Records and references

Data: Paleobiology Database collection 58036 (CC BY 4.0) — view the source record

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Questions about USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm

Can you collect at USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm?

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 USGS locality 8222, At first of Blue Buttes, south of Keene, Fort Union Fm?

Fossil.

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Meteorite nearbyA 2.5 kg iron meteorite was found at Illinois Gulch in 1899, 8 miles from here.

Source: Paleobiology Database.