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I have managed to find some fossils I want to preserve such as these ferns and some cordaites. As best as I can read online it seems these should not be cleaned to ensure to not ruin them. Or is that wrong? Is there something to soak them in that won't harm them? Afterwards, what is best to preserve them with? Should they be kept away from sunlight to reduce fading? Basically, would anyone recommend a link or two to read to keep these looking nice. Thank you, Kato ===================== Ferns Cordaite with multi-color staining from different oxidization rates from pyritization???

Can anyone confirm if the St.Clair fern site has been reopened? Thanks

I'm hearing reports from different sources that collecting fossil ferns at Burma Road near St. Clair is not allowed anymore. Part of the "rumor" is a local woman was running paid field trips to the collecting site and got shut down. Now violators are being prosecuted for trespassing. Can any fellow collectors shed some light of truth on the topic? I'm fearful of the expected reply; but need to know the truth.

Hello everyone! I guess curiosity just got the best of me and I decided to drive to St. Clair. I am only about 10 minutes away. I searched for the directions and ended up in what I thought was the same fern fossil bed as everyone else but, to my dismay, after checking Google Earth, I was not in the same area. I was on Burma Road alright, but just in a different "parking lot". Anyway, the day started out with a long trek on the path through the woods. A good friend and I had spotted some wild turkeys running ahead of us. That was fun. I decided to keep my pepper spray with me in case of a run in with some wildlife...hmmm...We kept trekking and trekking...getting nervous we weren't going to find the fern fossil clearing...well, we didn't find what everyone else has been to, we just found a small clearing with slate formations unearthed by water flows down the hilly area we were in. If it weren't for the water flows, the ground would still be covered in a thick layer of dirt and rocks. We spent just about an hour there and this is what we found (see pics) I'm not able to identify them yet, just being a newbie but I thought you may be interested in this little excursion. We may go to the high hill next to Walmart in St. Clair. My friend tells me there is a waterfall up there. I'll keep you all posted and let you know what we find there. There are more pics also, but I am unable to upload them Maybe another post....maybe it's because I am a newbie here. The first pic is my favorite...the fossil is raised from the slate, I believe it is a neuropteris seed fern. The others I am still hoping to find a name. Thanks for looking

I read on the forum here last week about the possibility of a landfill operation going in at St. Clair at or near the white fern fossil site. I decided it was time for me to make a trip from my home in the Harrisburg PA suburbs and head north on I-81 to St. Clair on Saturday. I had never been to St. Clair for the fern fossils. I got off 81 at the St. Clair/Rt 61 exit and drove down the mountain to St. Clair. I found the street that I needed to turn on that would take me to the mining company property. Burma Rd goes up the mountain there and then I started looking for the parking area at the trail. I found it on the 2nd try and pulled in. There was a man and his wife who were getting their backpacking equipment out of their SUV when I pulled in. I asked them if I had the right place for the fern fossils and he said yes. We got to talking and one of us mentioned Fossil Forum and realized we were all members here. He is Hitekmastr and his wife Nancy. They finished getting their gear together and were ready to hike on the trail back to the mine. As they left I started to get my gear together, made sure I had all my tools, my water bottles and other stuff that I would need. I was now ready for my hike. I started hiking on the trail, made my left turn on the other trail to start the 750 yard hike to the mine. I was excited to be there and couldn't wait to see the fern fossils for myself. When I got back to the mine I caught up with Hytecmastr & Nancy & she had already found a small fern fossil by her feet. They decided to go off in one direction and I started hiking down the gully and up the other side. I hiked quite a distance and decided to stop and start looking. I found some on the surface & they weren't really good. I decided to go back to where I came in and look around there since several seams come to the surface there. I found a spot to dig and started digging. I was finding good ferns. Most of the ferns that you will see were from my spot here. It was hot & humid on Saturday, and I'm digging & thinking why am I doing this on such a hot day? I think we all ask that question of ourselves at times. I found quite a few very nice ferns, and I found some plates that were all white. Interesting. I was there for about 2 hours and then decided I had enough for my collection. The sky was starting to cloud up a bit and I didn't want to get stuck back there in a storm. So I packed up my stuff and started hiking back up the trail. I was about half way up this trail when I heard a noise. I stopped to listen and heard it again. It sounded like a bear cub. It's a sound I've heard before. I looked in the direction it was coming from but didn't see anything. The bushes and trees are really dense along the one side of the trail. I saw a huge rhododendron starting to shake about 20 ft away. The bear was still making noises. I thought if that is a bear cub then that means momma is nearby. I started hiking really fast up the trail and kept looking back but I didn't see anything. I don't want any close encounters! I made it back to my car and took a break and drank some more water. It was hot! I put my gear in the car and started heading back down to St. Clair. I stopped to get something to munch on and then started back on my way home. I had a successful trip and I was happy. I got some ferns!!Here I am at the mine.Here's my digging spot.