Fossil hunting at or near Fort Hood military base in Central Texas

[Creek - Don]

Spent some time yesterday driving around Fort Hood military base area.   I didn't go inside the main base, but there were plenty of public roads and lands next to the base that were not fenced in or restricted.   I managed to find few spots that were exposed to the erosion.   Most fossils were bivalves,  gastropod and lots of broken oxytropidoceras ammos.   Due to nature of the preservation most Oxy's were broken. 

 

West Fort Hood in the background. 

 

Road leading to Fort Hood gate. 

 

Exposed Walnut Formation surface. 

 

Gryphaeas were everywhere! 

 

 

Collection. 

 

This is the biggest Oxy ammo I've ever found in Texas. It measures almost 13 inches.   

Edited August 1, 2021 by Creek - Don

[Uncle Siphuncle]

No collecting on Hood...federal property.  Fair game outside the fence, with a great many exposures ripe for exploration.

[Creek - Don]

Got the oxy ammo glued together using gorilla glue and holding well.  Anybody thinking these barnacle/oysters were these attached to the ammo before or after it died?  Seems just too big to be attached to the ammo while they were alive.  

Edited August 6, 2021 by Creek - Don

[Brazos Aaron]

They most definitely attached to the shell after it had died.  Oysters will attach to anything solid that's stationary.  Also probably indicates low rates of sedimentation at that time, probably why the oxys had time to break up before being preserved.

[Creek - Don]

On 12/21/2023 at 11:26 AM, Brazos Aaron said:

They most definitely attached to the shell after it had died.  Oysters will attach to anything solid that's stationary.  Also probably indicates low rates of sedimentation at that time, probably why the oxys had time to break up before being preserved.

Good to know. Thanks!