Eocene Fish of Blakeburn, Princeton, B.C.

[Roweness]

HI all, Hope everyone has been ok in this crazy year. We were able to self isolate (by about 20 miles) this summer and visited our favourite spot for a bit of fossil hunting near Princeton in South-West B.C. Canada. Our site is near the ghost town of Blakeburn, which can be a neat diversion when you need to take a break from staring at rocks all day.

 

Here are pics of some of the finds from 2020.  Pics aren't the best, finds are very small - my hubby has very sharp eyes!!

Enjoy!

Edited November 22, 2020 by Roweness
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[Roweness]

and some more bits and pieces.

Its been a while since others have posted fish from this area, anyone else have finds not yet posted, would love to see them!

Anita

[Notidanodon]

They would make a nice fish and chips

[Roweness]

Only if you like crunchy!!

[Fossildude19]

Nice fossils! Picture 2 looks like regurgitant, to me. 

Any ideas on genus on any of them?

These are some nice specimens!

 

  

 

[Roweness]

Hey thanks, they are so small, but we were pretty happy with the finds.  Haven't yet dug into IDing. any suggestions? Anita

[Roweness]

I agree  on pic 2, quite a mess.

[Jeffrey P]

Interesting seeing Eocene fish fossils that aren't Green River Formation. Nice finds. Thanks for posting them. 

[FossilDAWG]

I'm fairly confident that these are all Libotonius blakeburnensis.  Here is a link to an image from a member's gallery.  I have a few specimens from Whipsaw Creek that look just like yours in terms of the matrix and preservation.

 

Don

[FossilDAWG]

Here is a thread with another photo of Libotonius blakeburnensis (look on page 1 of the thread).  My specimens look very much like this, preserved in a dark brown shale.

 

Don

[Fossildude19]

Here is an informative PDF file on the Middle Eocene Fresh Water Fishes from British Columbia. 

[Roweness]

Hey all,

thanks for the suggestions and the PDF link! I have some work to do!! Good thing winter is coming.

 

Anyone locals that have collected in the Merritt area? Noted site near Stump Lake and one at about 4,000 ft above/ bit west of Nicloa Lk. Of course theres the very famous Quilchena, someone posted from 2012 regarding access - will need to look into that for sure!

 

Image 1 Else - Rockhounding is hard work (Black Mine near Princeton, B.C. , very rich site. A young man showed up while we were searching this, in 5 min's he had a fish almost 6 " long in 2 pieces, I should have asked to photo it, but got a nice look.)

Image 2 20 feet from our camping site - sheeesh...

 

Happy hunting

Anita

Edited November 25, 2020 by Roweness
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[Fossildude19]

21 hours ago, Roweness said:

Image 2 20 feet from our camping site - sheeesh...

  

 

[Pagurus]

Great finds. This looks like a fun place to collect. I'm not at all sure, though, that I'd be comfortable camping where you did! Exciting, though.