Virtual Fossil Hunting Field Trip.

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Hi Everyone!

 

I should preface that this collection of photos were taken on multiple occasions to this location.

 

I just wanted to share with you all typically, what my experience fossil hunting is like. This is not the only location or formation that I personally collect from, but it is the most frequent location I visit and is relatively accessible at all times of year. 
 

Anyway, essentially what we’ll be seeing here is the deposits of a 2ma old bay, represented by the Rio Dell Formation, then the Carlotta Formation, orange conglomeritic sandstones representing a delta that flowed into said bay, all uplifted by a faults driven by subduction.

 

ON TO THE PICTURES!

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This first picture is taken on an absolutely beautiful day, overlooking the trail down to the beach. We’ll be going down to the little patch of gray.

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Down on the Beach we can get a better picture of the lithology. I do believe that this represents the bottom most member of the Carlotta Formation or even possibly Eel River Sanstone.

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A look at the beach, out into the blue

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Here’s what we’re hunting in, the Rio Dell Formation, it’s the dark gray mudstones. In the winter this stuff gets REALLY GOOPY.

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A Find! Cryptonatica affinis. Unfortunately on this particular venture to the beach, I had forgotten to take my glue with me, I didn’t dare risk excavation for fear of completely destroying this specimen, instead I left this one for other explorers to find. 

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Here’s where the discontinuity comes in. Here’s a look down the cliff where, I find most of my specimens. Stuff also appears on the beach, after being tumbled in the surf. 

 

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You can see the difference I weather though. As well as how lucky the mud gets.

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Here’s a random photo of a beach cobble containing Patinopecten caurinus.

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That’s it for the in field photos.  
Let’s switch it up for a more domestic setting.

First up is ANOTHER Patinopecten carinus.

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Beach Cobble Containing some Barnicles and two, count ‘em ... TWO 2, Neptunea Smirina

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The rest of these finds were found in the cliff.

Starting off with Neptunea smirina.

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Smaller guy.

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I think this lil gastropod is a Channeled  Dogwinkle.

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This one is really interesting to me, it’s a smaller specimen of Cryptonatica affinis than that pictured above however it is nonetheless interesting. 
 

This particular specimen features a bore hole from a larger gastropod, and according to this paper:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-typical-predatory-drill-hole-created-by-a-naticid-gastropod-The-hole-is-circular-in_fig2_251491850 , maybe another Cryptonatica affinis.

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Neat little clam, Macoma addicotti.

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Another nice example of Giant Pacific Sea Scallop, this time, some of the nacre is still preserved.

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AANnnd... Finally, a little Fish Vertebra. I’m really not sure what it is, the best I can identify it as is a Filefish if some description(, I’ve hear of some species being brackish, but none that reside around here.

 

Maybe you all could help with further ID.

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Reference image of Filefish verts from here:https://www.fossilguy.com/sites/l_creek/lcrk_col_fish.htm

[Wrangellian]

Thanks for taking us along to your site. I think seeing pics of a site and the scenery around adds to a fossil's appeal.

That Macoma sure looks like the modern ones we find on the beach up here! (but not sure if it's the same species)

[RuMert]

Nice views. What's the stratigraphy?

[Ludwigia]

Thanks for sharing your site and finds with us. I really do enjoy seeing such spots and always fantasize about being there myself