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I am getting some fossils together to take to the ESCONI Braceville Shaft Mine trip that is running this Saturday and Sunday. The fossils that are collected there are Mazon Creek flora and fauna. When I am able to make one of these trips, I always pick up the car with several buckets full of fossils that we dump out and allow the participants to take home. This time I’m bringing a bunch of Mazon Creek fossil’s, Ordovician fossils from St. Leon, Indiana, Mississippian fossils from Anna, Illinois, Pliocene / Pleistocene shells from Florida, some echinoids and shark teeth from Morocco, a couple small Meg teeth from South Carolina (?), cephalopods from Graf, Iowa, some Pennsylvanian fossils from Oglesby, Illinois and maybe some other odds and ends that I do not recall. Here are a couple quick pics as I was placing them in the car. @stats

Anyone has any idea what this is? My husband found it in our fields in Crete approx. 400m .

New at hunting so I have no idea what I have. Location: Nolan County Texas

I don´t know if I can find the time to prepare fossil hunting trip reports for TFF regularly. However, I will at least try to prepare them regularly for my personal website in pdf format. I would like to share them with you. They are in German, though: Fossil Hunting Trips 2021 (link to my personal website) Thanks! Franz Bernhard

Hi. I'm in Mansfield, MA and love looking for rocks and fossils. I'd love to join a local fossil hunting group in MA/RI. Anyone know of any?

Just back from an epic hike in the Talkeetna Mountains after a recent storm passed through. The snow line was at 5,500 feet and at this time of year the snow is referred to as termination dust because it will stick in the higher peaks foreshadowing winter’s arrival. I have enough confidence now to name some of the fossils I have encountered on these hikes and would like any corrections on IDs if I misidentified them. The background geology I gleaned from Geological Survey Professional Paper 432, Upper Cretaceous (Campanian and Maestrichtian) Ammonites From Southern Alaska. An early morning start to take advantage of the spectacular weather. Castle Mountain, volcanic deposit which overlays the fossil bearing layers I will be hiking through. The Wrangell Mountains in the distance overlooking the Copper River Basin and Talkeetna Mountains in the foreground. Landed a ridge and tied down multiple times as even though good weather was forecast I need to have the plane where I left it so I can return home. The fossils on this trip are in the Matanuska Formation, specifically in member 3 and divided into two faunal zones. The lower, Inoceramus schmidti zone and upper, Pachydiscus kamishakensis zone. I believe this is a Pachydiscus sp. ammonite and have seen these before. Many of the concretions contain fossils and locally abundant. Having said that it was many miles hiking before a came across an intact ammonite. Bits and pieces to look at and ponder. Canadoceras sp. but so broken could have been a heteromoph and a completely different ammonite species. I mentioned the good weather for this trip and here is an example of what a storm can do. Normally you do not see what the silt stone looks like in un-weathered condition as it take quite an erosion event to expose the rock from the overburden. The preceding week had some heavy precipitation with this area obviously receiving enough to cut down to the bedrock. All the small gullies I crossed on this hike were also affected by the recent run off and snow at the higher elevations. This is at the base of the silt layer where it is overlain by the volcanic rock. The Dall sheep use the steep gullies and cliffs as escape habitat from predators. Kobuk, (my dog) was interested in the sheep and I recalled him so as to leave the ewes with their lambs to their solitude. Continuing on to my objective where I saw what looked like more silt stone exposure with concretions from the air. I like this picture which gives a feel for how steep the exposures are. You never know what is on the next one! Uncommon but I have found some petrified wood in this area. I could not determine what layer this was associated with as it was just laying in the tundra. If you look in some of the pictures you will see numerous caribou trails with this calf cruising by on one while Kobuk and I were having lunch. Caribou can be quit curious at times and this one approached to 12 feet. Notice Kobuk’s paws are ready to go! Still curious and had to take another look at us. Blue berries are ripe now and a bonus snack while in the mountains. My objective for this hike was this area and exposures. From the air it looked like numerous concretions in the silt stone but turned out to be chunks of conglomerates from the layers above. Four and one half miles from the plane so will loop back and check a few more exposures out. The six mile ammonite! Patagiosites alaskensis. The exposure on the right side here immediately caught my attention as I could see concretions. Getting closer and some more caribou, cow with her calf. More importantly definitely concretions here. Abundant Inoceramus in the float at the bottom of the cliff. Will come back another time to see what might be on the face but need to get new soles on my boots as my current ones are rounded and it’s hazardous when like that climbing that steep of an exposure. These Cretaceous deposits are very similar to those of Vancouver Island and the Chignik Formation on the Alaska Penninsula. In rereading the professional paper after this hike I got a better understanding of the geology and concretions there. Some of the concretions have thin crystal layers which look a little like shell in cross section. These are described as cone-in-cone concretions and are likely calcite layers which form concentrically in the concretion and their white flash appearance can be seen in the distance when looking shell material. Looking back from where I traversed can see the Chugach Mountains and recent snow. Nine miles and almost back to my ride home. Hope you enjoy as much as I did, what a day!

New to the group. Been a geology and paleontology nut since a kid, and studied a while in college. Got back into them while tutoring students for the Science Olympiad program. My interest is primarily paleontology, and my wife is interested in minerals and rocks. We've been on a few excursions lately along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and I'm starting to pick up necessary tools (tumbler, wet-sander, diamond burrs for my Dremel) We'd love to connect with other rock hounds in Northern Michigan, and are thinking of joking a club in Traverse City.

Been interested in fossils since I was a young boy (decades ago). Looking forward to reading posts on this forum to learn more. Great to be here!

Hi y'all! I recently got some more Aguja Formation Matrix and have had a great time looking for the little stuff - even found my first dino tooth! But of course, there is quite a variety of things that I can't ID and would be greatly appreciative of your help! 1. This first thing is my favorite! I don't know if it's a fish tooth or a denticle or what, but it's so cool looking!! Aprox 2mm 2. I THINK this is a croc tooth? I did a little poking around trying to ID the above and this one and stumbled upon Champosaur as a possibility perhaps? 4 mm 3. Is this part of a Croc Scute? It looks remarkably like the amphibian skull structures I'd found in the Permian micro matrix, which makes me think it might be Croc.... Size 6mm 4. What the heck is this? Denticle? It's obviously bone, but almost like a scale? Size: 8 mm Back 5. Fish Tooth? Size 4mm 6. Also fish tooth? Size 4 mm Top view

Well, I figured that I should start a member’s collection. Sorry for my absence, I was busy with college classes. I did great this semester, and I even won a student leadership award! With that being said, I’m gonna start my collection off with a piece that I acquired for my birthday! My 22nd Birthday is tomorrow (June 14th), and I was strapped for money. My father and grandmother chipped in, and helped me acquire this chromium woodworthia piece from a local rock shop that I frequent! It’s from Arizona, and it only cost $60 USD! I’ll try to be active here whenever I can, as I am exhausted from this semester of college (having to abruptly switch to an online format due to COVID-19). I’ll have to link other threads of my fossils and post pictures of my previous additions to my collection to this thread whenever I have the time!

I wonder if this is some animal or just a crystal formation. The surface is extremely smooth, when I touch it with my finger. The formation is from Late Ordovician. Pict. 1 Pict.2 Pict.3 Pict.4

I want to get into collecting fossils but can't seem to find anywhere to go, is there any places on the Delmarva peninsula where I can collect fossils?

My Mrs is a teacher at a local primary school (reception to year 6). Just before the end of the academic year a few weeks ago, one of her teacher friends asked me to do a talk for her year group of kids - bring a few fossils along and talk about them. Was happy to help, but due to Covid the senior management were reluctant for me to come into the school. I get it, but it does seem a bit silly since I live with one of their staff members Anyhow, I put together something for the teacher to present to the kids herself. Gave her about 15 fossils (ammonites, trilobites, a few teeth, fish, plants, insects in amber) and gave her detailed notes on each, labels with full details of age, collection location, formation etc And also gave her some books covering the items I sent. Apparently the kids really enjoyed the presentation. And each one wrote me a little note thanking me and telling me which was their favorite fossil - I was very touched. Have said that I am happy to do this again for the next academic year.

So far the dimensions of what's showing is 15.2mmx6mmx1.5mm & it's starting to curve back into the rock. With no sign of the end yet. I'm taking my time & investigating the piece after every couple scrapes. Whatever it is, it's not as hard as the surrounding material. I'm going to wait till I get a response before I do anymore. Just in case any of you think I should turn it over to a professional so I don't screw up whatever it is.

So, I had planned a long trip for this year and built a vehicle for it. However due to some health issues I had to cancel. However I still had the time off from work and the weather here in Omaha was not good for recovery. so I got some help packing up the new to me fossil hunting Jeep and headed west to San Diego. Plenty of time to burn and a vehicle with AC helped, so I took a long and inefficient route to SD where the VA has a better cardiovascular clinic. As I could only drive for a few hours a day and due to heat and wildfire smoke, I took stopped frequently and mostly stayed in hotel. However, it was cooler in the higher altitudes with much lower humidity so… Stopped at Fossil Mountain to camp. Couldn’t do much on the mountain itself where the good stuff is at, but enjoyed a cooler evening and morning. Didn’t get any fossils worth reporting, but was nice spot to relax. From there I stopped at Crystal Peak and scored a few pygs in a wash near the road.

Found these fossils: one sea urchin, belemnites (mainly Belemnella (Pachybelemnella) obtusa (Schulz, 1979) and/or sumensis and Belemnitella cf. minor II (Christensen, 1995) and one oyster (Pycnodonte vesicularis (Lamarck, 1806). Could anyone help me to determine the sea urchin? I think Hemiaster aquisgranensis (Schlüter, 1899)? Found in the ground around the Gulpen Formation (Cretaceous, late late Campanian, early Maastrichtian).

Hello All, Some photo's/images taken after fossil hunting trips to Limburg and Belgium. These are Cretaceous fossils (73 and/or 72-66 million year old, late-late Campanian, early Maastrichtian). For the most part the squid-like Belemnites (Belemnitella sp./Belemnitella junior (Nowak, 1913) or B. mucronata (Von Schlotheim, 1830) and other species (Belemnella sp.). Also Sea urchins (Echnicoroys sp.) and one piece of a Hemipneustes sp. or (possibly) Hemipneustes striatoradiatus (Leske, 1778). Also one oyster Pycnodonte vesicularis (Lamarck, 1806) and one small Sea urchin. Most fossils are found in the ground, in sediment and/or in water ('beek'). Last photo: quarry in Belgium (Cretaceous Chalk sediments). The Echinocorys sp. is incomplete but quite big (my girlfriend found it and was very happy. A quite rare and big fossil from that location Photo 1: Echinocorys sp. and Belemnitella and/or Belemnella sp. Parts of the sea urchin are in flint ('vuursteen'). Echinocorys is one of the most common species of sea urchins (Echinoidea) found in Limburg. Photo 2: Belemnitella junior (Nowak, 1913) and/or Belemnitella mucronata (Von Schlotheim, 1830), piece of Hemipneustes sp., one small Sea urchin (possibly Oolopygus sp. The exact species is possibly Oolopygus pyriformis (Leske, 1778). Photo 3: idem (Belemnitella/Belemnella sp.). One is embedded in chalk. Photo 4: Pycnodonte vesicularis (Lamarck, 1806), Cardiaster granulosus (Goldfuss, 1829), Belemnitella sp. and Belemnella sp. These fossils were found in water and in a field. Photo 5: Quarry at Belgium.

Hey guys, First, sorry I've been absent from the forums. After the death of @caldigger I just kinda fell off from the social aspect of it all. It's been a weird year and some change. Covid has effected us all in some form or other, the planet is basically on fire, and politics is eating us from the inside out. I've literally lost friend, figuratively and metaphorically from all of the above. In the time of my absence from the forums, I have been fossil hunting. I've only shared my experience with people that are personally close to me, mostly @Bone Daddy. But, I figured it was time to re-enter the paleontological world. I've just recently secured a new job and before it begins a week off for just myself. Of course, I'm currently spending that time fossil hunting. I've only gone once, which was Monday the 16th of August. But, It was very successful from the word 'go'. I arrived at my white river site fairly early at 9 am. I underestimated the heat of the day, and this particular site has no shade. I was only able to hunt for about 3 hours before my old age surrendered to the heat. In this three hours I found what I think to be a brontothere jaw. These are notoriously brittle, and this site makes no exception. In fact, my horse and kingdom for any of my fossil sites to produce a stable fossil! Anyway, as I arrived I noticed there was a section that I had somehow overlooked in my previous excursions. I immediately headed out that way, and found several chunkasaurus bits and bones...a few big verts, which I always love to find. I began to find scraps of a brontothere tooth, which is fairly common in the area. As I gave a closer look, I found a whole tooth. This is a blessing and a curse considering i've found 5 of these teeth in the area and only managed to obtain 1 of them in salvageable condition. I began the painstaking process of extracting this brittle tooth, while looking around for other pieces that may have been scattered through the ages. I noticed that there were more and more pieces of tooth uphill from the initial discovery. This was odd to me, because usually downhill from the major discovery is where you will find bits and pieces of it. I followed the trail which lead me to the beautiful jaw section. I managed to extract the jaw in 4 or 5 major pieces, but as you can tell from the photos, there is a lot of work to do. Although it is in several hundred pieces, I'm very pleased with the condition of it all. Anyway, here are the photos. Cheers Just replying to follow.

I’m looking to trade some of my fossils for some new mammal material. Interested in carnivores, megafauna (focus on sloths but everything is of interest), titanothere fossils, but I’m willing to hear any mammal offer. Primarily interested in trading for teeth but always interested in hearing others too! Will provide any further pictures requested for interested people! Pretty little Chub, I don’t have any locality info on it but it is a nice little guy. 1.72” Attractive little Low Country Meg. 2.13”. Some Pleistocene armadillo scutes and turtle spurs. The scutes are from Texas, the Spurs are from Florida. Largest spur is about 1.5” across, largest scute is 2.33” long. Really nice group of Cretaceous Gar scales from Hell Creek. Many sizes and colors here! Mix of Cretaceous Shark Teeth from Texas. Nice colorful little bunch in a floating frame case. Largest tooth is .81”.

Hi all, I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but here it goes. My Member collection post. I’ll be posting mainly Vertebrates, because I don’t have many invertebrate fossils. First up is just my main display table. It’s consists of mostly Pleistocene mammal teeth, but there are some Miocene fossils mixed in. Besides for a string of articulated shark vertebrae, a large meg my dad found, and a calcite clam, these are all either carnivorous mammal/Proboscidean fossils. Enjoy!

I'm just gonna start dumping pictures here of cool stuff I've found. All of this stuff is from the outdoors; I mean sure, I have some cool store-bought stuff like snowflake obsidian but that's not what I'm interested in sharing here. Some of this stuff I have in the other thread I started, but I'll post other stuff too. Nice lil' Hag Stone "The Brain" uhm....."Concretions" (Still working on an ID on these) Really old Coal (I think the term is anthracite?) Glassy rock I found, not sure what it is exactly. Garnet-y bits.

Hi all, this strange piece came with a batch of edestus fossils that were found in a coal mine in Illinois. Have no idea what it could be, the front seems to be coated in black coal mostly while the back has what appears to be ridges. All I know about the location is it was found in a coal mine along with some edestus teeth that is Carboniferous in age. Hoping with some help to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Hey guys, My family and I are staying in Rocky Mountain national park northwest of Denver. Anyone know where you can find fossils near there?

Hi everyone, I just want to start off the post by thanking @Bguild, @Fossildude19, and @Pagurus for their Cory's Lane post a while back, it really helped me with my trip there. Corys Lane is on a beach in Rhode Island, the view is absolutely incredible towards the end of the day. I visited towards the end of the day because of the tides. The area I was having the most luck at would be completely underwater by the time high tide came around. Speaking of which, I sampled different heights and areas of the locality, and I found that breaking the shale closest to the beach floor (and on the beach floor) was the most rewarding. Here are some photos of the locality and of my finds. I'm gonna need some help ID'ing the smaller ferns, as I'm not too well versed with plant fossils. The View The Finds Small fern(s?) Calamites? First find of the day, some sort of fern Large piece of wood? The B side of the fern showed earlier The area I was having the most luck at, it was sort of dug into the beach I'll have some more photos of the finds at a later date, I still have to sort through and clean them. Thanks for looking

Hi guys, I have a few bits and bobs I would really appreciate help with identifying, let me know if you need better photos of anything thanks for your help lets start with some Oligocene stuff from Yarmouth, 1. Some kind of skull element, what from though? 2. This is very weird, it does remind me of a tiny croc scute though 3. Some kind of ankle bone? and some from the lower greensand of whale chine, Isle of Wight, it is a coral, but not the usual holycites elegans, a book I read mentions a very rare mushroom shaped coral, like this maybe? So what do you think it’s about 13 cm long