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Anyone planning to go to the Aurora Fossil Fest this month?


RandyB

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Wondering if anyone is planning to attend this years fossil festival in Aurora, NC Memorial weekend or if anyone who has attended previously has any recommendations/advice? I've spoken to the director and know the basics, just looking for any insight a first timer should be aware of.

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Quite a few of us here on the Forum are going including myself. Be sure to check out the displays at the community center. North Carolina Fossil Club will have their books/DVDs for sale. Smithsonian usually has a fossil identification table and other museums are usually represented as well. A great way to spend a day socializing and fossil collecting on the piles of phosphate mine sediment provided.

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On 5/18/2022 at 8:15 AM, RandyB said:

Wondering if anyone is planning to attend this years fossil festival in Aurora, NC Memorial weekend or if anyone who has attended previously has any recommendations/advice? I've spoken to the director and know the basics, just looking for any insight a first timer should be aware of.

I wish I could, but its a bit far, lol. I heartily recommend the event.  I attended for many years, and volunteered for a bunch, too, when I lived in the area.

The format is very different this year based uptake AFM's festival webpage. But I imagine the basics will be the same.  Some recommendations:

  • Bring those stubborn fossils for which you don't yet have an ID.  As @Plax indicated, Smithsonian folks will be there at the fossil identification booth. 
  • Bring cash. The ATM line can be long, and not all of the smaller vendors accept cards.
  • Patronize the small vendors
  • Bring a large jug of water, sunscreen and a hat..  It's going to be hot!  Dress accordingly.
  • Hit the spoil pile for a bit, and bring a bag or container to put your finds in.
  • Get there early
  • Bring a 5-gallon bucket.  At the end of the day, grab a bucket of. spoil to bring home to search through

 

 

  • Enjoyed 1

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

George Santayana

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4 hours ago, hemipristis said:

I wish I could, but its a bit far, lol. I heartily recommend the event.  I attended for many years, and volunteered for a bunch, too, when I lived in the area.

The format is very different this year based uptake AFM's festival webpage. But I imagine the basics will be the same.  Some recommendations:

  • Bring those stubborn fossils for which you don't yet have an ID.  As @Plax indicated, Smithsonian folks will be there at the fossil identification booth. 
  • Bring cash. The ATM line can be long, and not all of the smaller vendors accept cards.
  • Patronize the small vendors
  • Bring a large jug of water, sunscreen and a hat..  It's going to be hot!  Dress accordingly.
  • Hit the spoil pile for a bit, and bring a bag or container to put your finds in.
  • Get there early
  • Bring a 5-gallon bucket.  At the end of the day, grab a bucket of. spoil to bring home to search through

 

 

My wife and I are planning to go this year. Thank you for the tips @hemipristis

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 5/20/2022 at 6:37 AM, hemipristis said:

 

  • Bring a 5-gallon bucket.  At the end of the day, grab a bucket of. spoil to bring home to search through

 

 

 

I know it is after the festival now, wish I had seen this post before. 

 

For future reference.

 

You are not allowed to remove matrix from the piles. You can keep your finds, but no matrix can be removed.

Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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7 hours ago, sixgill pete said:

 

I know it is after the festival now, wish I had seen this post before. 

 

For future reference.

 

You are not allowed to remove matrix from the piles. You can keep your finds, but no matrix can be removed.

That’s new. I did it for years, and was so encouraged 

'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.'

George Santayana

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Wouldn't work with the hordes descending on Aurora daily now. I don't think  I saw more than a couple forum members there. Most were probably outside on the piles or at the auctions and other venues and didn't have time to stop at the displays. Kudos go to sixgill pete for arranging for and organizing the displays at the community building.

Edited by Plax
bad typing
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16 hours ago, hemipristis said:

That’s new. I did it for years, and was so encouraged 

 

It was like that in 2018, 2019 

  • I found this Informative 1

Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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Looking forward to seeing everyone's finds from the festival!

  • I Agree 1

Fin Lover

 

image.png.e69a5608098eeb4cd7d1fc5feb4dad1e.png image.png.e6c66193c1b85b1b775526eb958f72df.png

image.png.7cefa5ccc279142681efa4b7984dc6cb.png

My favorite things about fossil hunting: getting out of my own head, getting into nature and, if I’m lucky, finding some cool souvenirs.

 

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