Trip to Oglesby 2/18/2023

[Joseph Fossil]

Two days ago I went with @Tales From the Shale and another friend on a fossil hunting trip to a Bond Formation Roadcut in Oglesby, Illinois with rocks dating around 307-303 Million years ago, to the Pennsylvanian section of the Carboniferous era. Hadn't been back to the site since October 2022 and it was good to be back!

 

 

 

I was pleasantly surprised at the lack of snow. But it was clear it only melted very recently judging by the arm sized icicles and the mud. 

(Quick advice for anyone planning to go fossil hunting at this time in Oglesby: bring snow boots to balance yourself on the rocks and mud, they will be a life saver).

 

 

Found the usual brachiopods and crinoid bits at first, but then I found a 5cm long crinoid stem (the most intact one I've found so far from the area). I don't know currently what species it belongs to.

 

We worked for two hours at the site before heading to another site in Braceville before heading back to Chicago. Today, I looked at some of the specimens I found and realized I found a lot more than I initially expected.

 

 

 

Definitely enjoyed finding the large brachiopods (the second one I believe is a large Linoproductus).

 

 

Found some Bryozoan (species unknown), the first I've discovered in Oglesby.

 

 

Found a small but still pretty cool Cladodont shark tooth around 1-2cm in length. Currently don't know the species yet.

 

 

Another cool Brachiopod (I think it's a Punctospirifer species).

 

Also found some Petalodus teeth, Trilobite pieces, and bits of Peripristis. I'll post those and more detailed images of the others when I have access to my college's microscopes later this week.

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice.

[connorp]

Nice finds. What did you find in Braceville?

[Joseph Fossil]

2 hours ago, connorp said:

Nice finds. What did you find in Braceville?

 

@connorp I found lots of shale rock and some nodules, with one at least containing what appears to be fossilized seeds. 

[deutscheben]

Thanks for the report, I look forward to seeing the rest of your finds. 
 

I was actually out at the same locale on Sunday and ran into @connorp and @jfill- it seems it is going to be a busy spring there based on the last two weeks! 

Edited February 21, 2023 by deutscheben

[Tales From the Shale]

Just a fair warning to everyone around, my girlfriend and @Joseph Fossilboth took turns slip and sliding down the rocks. It is extremely hazardous after the last freeze over. Caution highly advised

[Joseph Fossil]

On 2/21/2023 at 10:36 AM, Tales From the Shale said:

Just a fair warning to everyone around, my girlfriend and @Joseph Fossilboth took turns slip and sliding down the rocks. It is extremely hazardous after the last freeze over. Caution highly advised

 

@Tales From the Shale Yep, that's about right. While exploring a section of the outcrop that day, I began to slip a lot so decided to hold onto a small dead tree - only for to realize with dread seconds later that its roots were already gone. I accidentally pulled up the entire dead tree and hoped not to fall, of which luckily I had once again achieved my footing. If you go there to fossil hunt, caution is advised and bring snow boots and something for extra support (like a sledge hammer, which is surprisingly useful at both smashing rocks open and helping you climb). Still, for all the cuts and bruises you could suffer, you will be richly rewarded with a veritable goldmine of fossils from the Pennsylvanian era.