Geology & Paleontology

layered badlands buttes reach into a cloudy sky above — Badlands buttes contain millions of years of history -- much of which can be unpacked with the sciences of geology and paleontology.
NPS Photo

Geology & Paleontology Portal

banded badlands buttes stretch far into the horizon with green prairie in valleys.

Geologic Formations

Curious about the geologic formations of Badlands National Park? Check out this article to learn more.

a green vertical line runs through a brown badlands peak

Clastic Dikes

What holds up Badlands peaks? Clastic dikes! These geologic structures have puzzled scientists and visitors alike. Learn more here!

an elevated patch of prairie, roughly cubic, stands above grasses and canyons.

Sod Tables

Why do some parts of the prairie stand above the rest? Read this article to learn more about what sod tables are and how they got there.

Revisiting The 1940 Badlands Expedition

badlands buttes form vertical cliffs and are capped by a grove of junipers beneath a blue sky

White River Badlands Paleontology

People have been finding Badlands fossils for hundreds of years. Learn more about the history of paleontology in this area here.

paleontologists stand, lean over, and crawl in a large pit where they excavate fossils

The Big Pig Dig

The Big Pig Dig took 15 field seasons and recovered over 19,000 fossils. Read more about this excavation and its story here.

a large marine reptile swims through blue water and closes its jaws around a squidlike creature

Mosasaur

Mosasaurs were marine reptiles that used to live in the Badlands area when it was covered by a shallow sea. Learn more about them here.

two halves of an enormous skull sit in a display box, both teeth side up.

Brontothere

Brontotheres are the largest fossil mammals found in the Badlands. Learn more about these ancient "thunder beasts" in this article.

a fossil skull and rib bones sit in a styrofoam package with a diagram of the full skeleton

Oreodont

Oreodonts are one of the most common Badlands fossils. Millions of years ago, herds of oreodonts would have grazed in the Badlands area.

a human hand holds a skull with long, sharp saber teeth in front of badlands buttes

Nimravid

Nimravid, a cat-like creature, is one of the few carnivore fossils found in the Badlands. Learn more about this ancient mammal here.

Last updated: April 16, 2021

Contact Info

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25216 Ben Reifel Road
Interior, SD 57750

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605 433-5361

Geology & Paleontology