Unique Xyne Fossil Fishes Mass Mortality from California

Description: During the Miocene an apparent spawning catastrophe wiped out millions of herrings in a shallow bay located off the coast of California, just north of present day Santa Barbara. This plate comes from that thin deathbed horizon located 950 above the bottom of the exposure. The plate and formation consist primarily of diatomaceous earth. Upon it are one complete and seven large partial herrings. The preservation is typical of the fossils found at this location. The fish are light impressions with a thin carbon film that grades from light to quite black. This species went extinct at the end of the Miocene.

Of interest is the scientific paper from which this background information came. It was published in 1920. This is the first, and only, mortality plate I have had the pleasure of obtaining from this locality. When it was collected is unknown. I’d like to think that this plate was collected in the 1920s. However, this is just a romantic notion, and I have no substantive proof to offer. I am unaware of any collecting during the present time at this quarry. The site is on private property. I consider this a unique and important specimen, and therefore give it my highest recommendation.