What to look for in NC piedmont

[NaomiE]

Hi all,

 

I'm an extreme amateur looking to try my hand at fossil hunting. I live in the triangle region of North Carolina and I've been trying to do some research about what I can expect to find. I live in an undeveloped area and have lots of woods and several creeks around that I was planning to explore. Does anyone have any suggestions about what I should look for or what there is to find in this area? Also, if there are specific things I should look for, what's the best method to find them? 

[facehugger]

I suggest looking at a geological map of your state, and any fossil books that are particular to that locality as well. And I'm sure a number of members have posts that will progress your research. 

 

I hear that South Carolina is great for shark teeth, megs included. Not sure about NC. 

[sixgill pete]

The Triangle area is basically void of fossils. There is Triassic rock but the fossils are few and not accessible. The best fossiling is in the eastern part of the state east of I-95. There are exposures ranging from the Cretaceous through the Pleistocene. Shark teeth, echinoids and fossil mollusks are the most common. However you can also find lots of different things. 

 

I would recommend joining the North Carolina Fossil Club. The next meeting is Jan 19 at 1:30 PM at the North Carolina Museum of Science in Raleigh. Yearly membership for new members is $20. The club does trips to various sites throughout the year and can help you meet other fossil loving people.

[grandpa]

2 hours ago, sixgill pete said:

I would recommend joining the North Carolina Fossil Club. The next meeting is Jan 19 at 1:30 PM at the North Carolina Museum of Science in Raleigh. Yearly membership for new members is $20. The club does trips to various sites throughout the year and can help you meet other fossil loving people.

First, a warm welcome to TFF from Austin, Tx.  This is a great place for info to support your interest in learning more about fossils.

 

NC has some great fossil locales, just not near RTP. 

 

I strongly support @sixgill pete 's recommendation above.  I've had the pleasure of hunting NC several times over the years and have gotten to know some of the members of the NC Fossil Club.  They have proven to be a great group of folks, very friendly and helpful.  The club also has a number of great publications on NC fossils that I'm sure you will want to pick up over time.  Also, ask about the NC govn't publication on "NC Fossil Locations".  It has proven to be a great resource for me in the past to put me on some good collecting sites.  It's a bit dated now (published in the 1980's) but as I recall not very expensive.

 

I'd also recommend you visit these TFF sites:

and:

 

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/forum/123-north-carolina/

 

for additional info regarding NC.

 

Again, welcome to TFF - we love to have "extreme amateurs" as members.