Search the Community

As I'm waiting for photos to process I thought I would start this topic. If there is one formation that Gary and I are starting to get a handle on it's the Walnut Clay. We've hunted it together at several sites in Callahan County, several more in Taylor County, more still in that strange conglomerate of counties around Glen Rose. We've explored it separately in the area between Goldthwaite and Lampasas, and Erose showed me a site in Travis County. We've both developed some experience spotting the formation from the road, or from a quick inspection stop. And we've both garnered some experience spotting it by comparing geological maps with Google Earth imagery. Gary has gotten much better at the last than I have. And now I need to thank Dan Woehr. His Site Prospecting 101 and 102 inspired both Gary and me. But Gary is mastering the art of closing the deal. I would consider Gary more of an introvert than I am. He's our IT guy, and would rather spend his time in front of a computer than dealing with people. I entertain and educate sixth graders 178 days a year, and regularly do workshops and presentations for as many as 100 fellow educators. But Gary has learned not just how to spot the potential site on the map, but to make phone calls, email, knock on doors, and shake hands. And he is getting us access to some great sites. , He did it again this week. We were planning on heading to Jacksboro this morning, but on Friday Gary called me and told me about a very promising Walnut Clay site in Callahan County. We left at 6 am, arrived at the nearest town about 45 minutes later, had a cup of joe in the parking lot of a convenience store, and called the landowner. By the time we arrived at the site 15 minutes later the gate was unlocked. I like any and all fossil hunting sites. Unlike Gary, I even like the ones that don't really produce much. But I really like sites that lie beyond fences and locked gates. Especially when they do produce. This site produced. I've never seen a broader, more proliferant, and well-preserved example of the Walnut Clay faunal assemblage. We found an amazing number of fossils, at three different horizons in the same formation. If you spit, your spit hit one or more fossils. In my case more than one since I'm part of the gang that can't spit straight. I'm not trying to tease you--I really am waiting on photos to process. Heck no--I'm leading you on. I wanted at one time to be the Next Great American Novelist. Never happened and never will. But I can write a cliffhanger.

Gary obtained permission for us to hunt a massive exposure of the Walnut Clay. The site was a huge aggregate quarry that was in operation for more than 60 years. From the gate--Buzzard Peak has an elevation of 2400 feet. I'm standing at about 2000 feet of elevation. Base camp--can you spot Gary? Your intrepid correspondent and his fearless partner. Massive outcrops and piles everywhere. Buzzard Peak is an apt name. Three peaks give evidence of long-ago volcanic activity. Miles and miles and miles of Texas. Edwards limestone with karstic features. Wildflowers. Some mysteries--probably from the Edwards cap. Ammonites and straight-line cephalopods?