2929 N. Thanksgiving Way #15, Lehi, UT 84043 USA voice: 801-437-4878 fax: 801-437-4879 email: mail@westernpaleolabs.com www.westernpaleolabs.com
May 28, 2003
The following pages include a company profile and additional information that I hope you will find valuable.
For the past 10 years WPL, Inc. has been active in progressing the science of Jurassic vertebrate paleontology. We own and lease property that bears vast numbers of fossils.
We have more than 13 years of exhibit work as well as: quarry excavation, preparation, conservation, molding, casting and mounting experience. We have both original and cast fossil material available to museums, exhibit contractors and researchers. We specialize in fossils from the Jurassic. Specifically, we have Allosaurus, Brachiosaurus,
Camarasaurus, Camptosaurus, Ceratosaurus, Diplodocus, Hesperosaurus, Stegosaurus,
Tanycolagreus, crocodile and turtle material.
We hope this information is useful to you and we look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Clark J. Miles
WPL, Inc.

W ESTERN P ALEONTOLOGICAL L ABORATORIES , I NC .
2929 North Thanksgiving Way #15
Lehi, UT 84043 USA
Contact name: Clark J. Miles
Telephone number: 801-437-4878
Facsimile number: 801-437-4879
WEB: www.westernpaleolabs.com
Email: clark@westernpaleolabs.com
WPL, I
.
B
Years in operation : The business began in 1987 and was incorporated in 1989.
Ownership : The four principal owners of WPL are: Ronald G. Mjos,
Clifford A. Miles, Clark J. Miles and Jeffrie R. Parker.
Number of Staff :
WPL’s current staff is 11 people. We have had as many as
40 employees during specific projects.
Company Focus :
Western Paleontological Laboratories’ focus is the promotion of the science of paleontology through the location, mapping, excavation, preparation, preservation, interpretation and presentation of the earth’s fossil record.
Our primary attention is given to Jurassic vertebrate paleontology.

D
ESCRIPTION OF
WPL F
ACILITIES
:
WPL is located in the North American Museum of Ancient Life. This 120,000 square foot facility is home to one of the world’s largest collections of mounted dinosaurs, a 3-D giant screen theater, gift shop and café. It is located 20 miles (32.19 km) south of Salt Lake City next to
Interstate 15 in Lehi, Utah.
Our Preparation Lab covers 1,500 square feet (139.4 square meters). This lab is used to clean, stabilize and restore original bone material. Museum visitors can watch our preparators at work through a large observation window.
Separate from the Prep Lab is a 2,800 square foot (260.1 square meter) Staging Area used for exhibit construction, mounting large specimens and preparing them for shipment.
Our 900 square foot (83.6 square meters) Molding and Casting Lab is used to set up molds, pour and clean casts and lay out specimens prior to mounting.
A large 3,146 square feet (292.3 square meter), secured area beneath the exhibit halls insures the safety of those specimens not currently being prepared.
E XPERIENCE :
Western Paleontological Laboratories, Inc., has over fourteen years of experience in the discovery, excavation, preparation, restoration, mounting and research of Jurassic to Eocene age fossils. WPL has created numerous educational and scientific displays. Our work is found in some of the finest museums and educational institutions in the world.

North American Museum of Ancient Life

Denver Museum of Nature and Science

Gunma Museum of Natural History

Hayashibara Museum of Natural Sciences

Brigham Young University

University of Wyoming

Elizabeth Dee Shaw Stewart Dinosaur Museum

The Museum of Idaho

American Museum of Natural History

National Science Museum, Japan

Dinofest

Clark Planetarium

E
XHIBIT
D
ESIGN AND
C
ONSTRUCTION
:
WPL’s exhibit philosophy is build for beauty, longevity, education and entertainment. Our interactive exhibits instruct and endure. Our dioramas immerse the visitor into their surroundings.
D ESCRIPTION OF WPL Q UARRIES :
We lease or own all the property that we dig on. It is privately held property. Most of our quarries are located near Medicine Bow, Wyoming; specifically, Township 24 N, Range 77 W, Albany
County, Wyoming. They are located in the sections of S28, S27, S34, and S33. It is Morrison
Formation.
C ONSERVATION OF F OSSIL B ONES :
WPL is well versed in current recommended conservation processes. Fossil bones are carefully removed from the matrix using the latest state-of-the-art tools while being constantly stabilized with paraloid and cyanoacrylates. Any necessary restoration is done at this time using the most appropriate material. Before and after preparation, bones are stored in secured areas on suitable shelving and are supported as needed to insure minimal stress.
M OLDING AND C ASTING OF R EAL B ONE :
WPL is known worldwide for accurate casts of fossil specimens. Most of the specimens that WPL has prepared have been molded and cast, insuring that many institutions may benefit from the original specimen. These casts are in constant demand and are noted for their fine quality. Casts of WPL specimens have been used for comparative studies in such museums as the American
Museum of Natural History, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and the Institut fur
Palaontologie-Museum fur Naturkunde located at the Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin.
Several different types of silicone are used in molding to insure that the minutest detail of the specimen is captured while the mold stays durable. Casting materials used, such as polyester resins, insure the highest possible quality and detail. Proper use of these materials insures that multiple superior quality casts can be made.
P
REVIOUS
F
OSSIL
B
ONE
P
REPARATION
:
For the past 14 years Western Paleontological Laboratories, Inc., has been dedicated to the discovery, excavation, preparation, mounting and research of fossils. Specimens we have prepared range from the Jurassic through the Eocene, some of which include the following:

Hesperosaurus mjosi (type specimen)

Camarasaurus grandis

Gargoyleosaurus parkpinorum (type specimen)

Tanycolagreus topwilsoni (type specimen)

Ceratosaurus nasicornis (sub-adult)

Allosaurus

Stegosaurus stenops

Diplodocus

Crocodile

Harpactognathus gentryi (type specimen)

Camptosaurus

Triceratops

Edmontosaurus

Green River Fish, Plants, Animals

Protoreodont

O RIGINAL F OSSIL M ATERIAL C URRENTLY A VAILABLE
JUVENILE ALLOSAUR : One of the exciting finds during the 2001 quarry season was a young theropod. As a juvenile, it had many features that were similar to our Tanycolagreus, thus delaying a positive identification. It has now been identified as Allosaurus jimmadseni . We have most of the skull, cervicles, dorsals, ribs, sacrals, arms and one leg. We are continuing our excavation to see if additional material can be found. It will be about 4.3 meters in length and 1.1 meters at the top of the sacrals, (14 feet 2 inches long, and stands 45 inches at top of sacrals) less than a quarter of an adult. Now we will be able to see for the first time how juvenile theropods differ from the adults. It will help tell us how these animals grew, possibly at what rates and likely help us to determine at what age theropods were left to fend for themselves.
A most exciting discovery occurred as preparation progressed on the young theropod,
SKIN IMPRESSION was found! In the matrix surrounding a rib, a definite skin pattern was revealed. Some believe that this is the oldest carnivore skin impression known.
ALLOSAUR SKELETON : WPL is working on an adult Allosaur skeleton that was collected less than 10 feet away from the juvenile. It is possible that they were parent and offspring. Both could very easily be mounted as the first adult\youth Jurassic theropods on display. They could be mounted as cast or originals. (WPL recommends mounting a cast of the adult skeleton and two or three casts of the baby and leaving the original bones for study.) Further preparation is required to determine the size of this skeleton but we think it will be 8.83 meters long (29 feet in length).
CAMPTOSAURUS SKELETON : We have a very nice skeleton with the finest skull of
Camptosaurus available. As the skull material was prepared and articulated, a debate began suggesting that it could have been a Dryosaurus. Current preparation and study has revealed that the animal is indeed a Camptosaurus measuring approximately 3.35 meters long (11 feet long).
STEGOSAUR SKELETON : WPL is currently preparing a Stegosaur skeleton that is very likely a new species and quite possibly a new genus. Currently, only a limited number of elements have been exposed, but there appears to be enough for a mountable skeleton. We have yet to find the skull. We estimate the stegosaurus skeleton to be 5.75 meters long (18.8 feet long).
NOTE : During the 2002 field season, WPL began excavation of three additional individual stegosaur skeletons. The full disposition of the fossils will be ascertained in 2003.
DIPLODOCUS SKULL : We have an original juvenile Diplodocus skull with two cervicals.
The disarticulated skull elements were molded, then the original fossil was articulated along with the two cervical vertebrae. It is a most impressive display.
GONIOPHOLIS : Jurassic crocodile with articulated scutes.

M
OUNTING OF
O
RIGINAL
F
OSSIL
B
ONE
:
From fine, fragile Eocene palm leaves to large, heavy fossil bones of Camarasaurus grandis ,
WPL has been able to creatively and successfully mount real fossils. Much care is given to maintain the fragile, yet stable, material while mounting it into a pleasing and exciting pose.
Careful attention to the tendencies of fossil bones has given WPL great insights as to the natural posture of each specimen. The following are some of the original bone mounts that WPL has assembled:

Camarasaurus grandis skeleton

Juvenile Camarasaurus skeleton

Stegosaurus stenops skeletons

Triceratops skulls

Edmontosaurus skulls

Allosaurus skulls

Diplodocus skull
S
KELETON
C
ASTS
C
URRENTLY
A
VAILABLE
:
Western Paleontological Laboratories, Inc., has several mounted casts currently available. Many interactions could be created by incorporating the following casts:
Allosaurus jimmadseni: Just now finishing the preparation of this specimen, WPL is offering the original bones for acquisition by a museum. WPL will mold the original material and mount a cast. The original material may be placed in the museum’s research and study collection.
Ceratosaurus nasicornis: This beautiful dinosaur was collected at the famous Bone Cabin
Quarry by WPL. It has been prepared, and is now on display in the North American Museum of
Ancient Life. Casts of the specimen are available, mounted to client specifications.
Stegosaurus stenops : This specimen was found so near the surface that it was impossible to remove it completely from the matrix. WPL decided to prepare it as a panel mount, mold it and make casts available. It is 4.57 meters by 2.43 meters and 23 cm deep.
Tanycolagreus topwilsoni : A new theropod discovered in 1995, this specimen helped clarify some differences between Ornitholestes and Coelurus. It now resides in the North American
Museum of Ancient Life and casts are available.
Hesperosaurus mjosi: This stegosaurid is approximately 8 million years older than stenops .
Some unusual features are the oval plates, and fused caudal vertebrae indicating an injury to the animal while it was alive. Casts are available and can be posed to client specifications.
A DDITIONAL I NFORMATION :
Restoration diagrams, quarry maps, images available upon request.
For additional information please visit our web page at: www.westernpaleolabs.com
.
Telephone number: 801-437-4878
Facsimile number: 801-437-4879
Email: clark@westernpaleolabs.com