| This is a chunk of petrified Black locust wood from the late Miocene Dove Spring Formation of the Ricardo Group, collected in Last Chance Canyon long before that area was assimilated by the expanded borders of Red Rock Canyon State Park just a few years ago; today, Last Chance Canyon lies within the boundaries of Red Rock Canyon State Park--fossil collecting there is obviously forbidden, except by special permit from the state park system, a permit issued solely to qualified, trained scientists with a degree from an accredited university whose research can be verified by independent investigators. The species of Black locust from which the specimens came is called scientically, Robinia alexanderi; in actual size, the specimen is 11 centimeters long (four and one-half inches). |