Fossil hunting when there are no fossils

[butchndad]

My wife dragged me away from Big Brook this weekend for a trip to Cape Cod. Beautiful but non-fossilious Cape Cod. So what’s a fossil collector to do?  Well if you’re on the Cape you walk the beaches looking for modern shark teeth and perhaps some cool bone. No shark teeth and the closest I came was likely modern bovine teeth (although I suspect it’s been a long while since cows were grazing out there).  In a pinch, rocks and shells would have to do and I had a ball nonetheless. I did find some horseshoe crab and sea bird skeletons but so far she who must be obeyed won’t let me bring them inside so they’re still in the trunk. BTW does anyone have any idea to strip the mussel shells down to the mother of pearl level?

[JamieLynn]

You got it right there....take really nice pics of the things you find. Great pics!! 

[Phevo]

11 hours ago, butchndad said:

BTW does anyone have any idea to strip the mussel shells down to the mother of pearl level?

 

On thicker shells like Abalones and Pinnas I have sanded them down to that level (240+ grain), but these you show here are too thin for that, you could always try I suppose

[LabRatKing]

1 hour ago, Phevo said:

 

On thicker shells like Abalones and Pinnas I have sanded them down to that level (240+ grain), but these you show here are too thin for that, you could always try I suppose

Felt polishing wheel on a dremel, a light hand and lots of buffing compound will do the trick on the thin ones. Practice on a few scraps first to get your technique down pat.

[jpc]

Having left Massachusetts 40 years ago, one of the few things I miss (other than Fenway Park) is a walk on the beach when no one else is there.  And seeing what has washed up.  I wonder if this is where my joy in fossil hunting came from.  

[butchndad]

37 minutes ago, jpc said:

Having left Massachusetts 40 years ago, one of the few things I miss (other than Fenway Park) is a walk on the beach when no one else is there.  And seeing what has washed up.  I wonder if this is where my joy in fossil hunting came from.  

don't share your feelings about Fenway but if i ever do retire i want to be near the ocean and where there are quiet beaches to walk on and shells/rocks/bones to collect

[jpc]

3 minutes ago, butchndad said:

don't share your feelings about Fenway but if i ever do retire i want to be near the ocean and where there are quiet beaches to walk on and shells/rocks/bones to collect

I threw that in there because I saw that you were from NJ.... He he he he he  : )

 

[NSRhunter]

15 hours ago, butchndad said:

My wife dragged me away from Big Brook this weekend for a trip to Cape Cod. Beautiful but non-fossilious Cape Cod. So what’s a fossil collector to do?  Well if you’re on the Cape you walk the beaches looking for modern shark teeth and perhaps some cool bone. No shark teeth and the closest I came was likely modern bovine teeth (although I suspect it’s been a long while since cows were grazing out there).  In a pinch, rocks and shells would have to do and I had a ball nonetheless. I did find some horseshoe crab and sea bird skeletons but so far she who must be obeyed won’t let me bring them inside so they’re still in the trunk. BTW does anyone have any idea to strip the mussel shells down to the mother of pearl level?

Not sure if you saw this but 

 

 

[butchndad]

4 hours ago, NSRhunter said:

Not sure if you saw this but 

 

 

i had read it but Martha's Vineyard is an island off the coast and not accessible from where we were.  I have also read that the best place to hunt is on a reservation and now basically off limits. But i do thank you for trying to help me