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These are some of my new finds from a roadcut in Fenton Missouri that I recently heard about. I mostly find crinoid pieces (including a few Platycrinites), fenestrate bryozoans and some Archimedes. I'm not sure what the larger fossil is in the first picture. I'm thinking a plate of a large crinoid but I'm probably wrong. The next two I'm not convinced are worth noting. I don't know if they're part of a calcite vein/geode-like structure or very weathered fossils.

I found this within 1 minute at a new spot in Fenton, Missouri that I heard about on the Missouri fossil page on Facebook. I had to glue a part back on and I've started cleaning it up. I think it's part of a large crinoid either the holdfast or less likely the head that's upside down. What do you guys think?

Ever since I was youngster I've been fascinated with paleontology. I always thought thought the act of going out and hunting for fossils was far fetched... That I would spend hours and hours of searching and come back with nothing. Recently however I did some research on the topic and discovered that oceanic fossils are actually quit abundant and easy to find. After stumbling upon this new information I quickly purchased a rock pick and cold tempered chisel and gathered all the equipment I would need for my first fossil hunt - something I'd dreamed of for as long as I can remember. Last week my father and I set out to explore an area near Fenton which I heard was filled with loads of fossils and I must say that it was the most fun I've had in a long time. While my goal of finding a trilobite was a bust we found a lot of other cool stuff in an area of exposed rock along the Merremac river. Among the things were found were plenty of crinoids, brachiopods, horn coral, and bryozoa, a well preserved Archimedes screw, and, my personal favorite, a perfectly preserved gastropod (snail shell) about 1 inch in diameter. I also chiseled out a perfect spherical concretion which, as I understand, is essentially a fossilized meteor. There are also some rounder shaped things... I have no clue what they are. If anyone has any tips on how to clean up these fossils to make them look more presentable than they already are, please share (for I am clueless on how to do such things). Also if anyone has some recommendations on great place to hunt in the St. Louis area I'd like to hear them. I hear the Fern Glenn site is pretty good so I might try that next. On a side note... This fossil hunting... It's like an addiction... Now that I've had my first hunt I need more! I'm craving more fossil hunts! If I don't go another one soon I think I'm going to go crazy! -Jake