Fred Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Given the fact that most of you know and like Moroccan trilobites (I know I do), I thought it would be interesting to share my May 2008 hunting trip there with you all. I covered this trip in dutch on our website www.fossiel.net (offcourse, you're all welcome to pay us a visit, we do speak english), so I'll translate it. First of all: I only did a couple of days of fossil hunting, the rest of my stay was spent on hiking and sightseeing with my partner. These are the classic fakes and/or composites, encountered in virtually every moroccon fossil store. People actually buy them. This ammo is dodgy, she thinks. O yes. The first fossils we encountered in the field (by accident) were actually ripple marks: Then for some serious collecting. This is an Ordovician locality (Fezouata fm.). Some findings: Paleo database, information and community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted September 4, 2008 Author Share Posted September 4, 2008 Another locality, looking for orthocones and stone tools: And a third locality, a typical devonian outcrop. Look how the layers containing rare or spectacular species are dug out over the years. Pits can easily be 5 meters deep! Typical devonian finds: Another location yielded the well-known Flexicalymene spp. In the field, they look like this: Remember, you're never alone out there, so take care! (for me however, being an ecologist, such encounters are nearly always very pleasant experiences): Paleo database, information and community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kauffy Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Amazing post, thanks a lot for sharing the pictures! i have always wanted to see some of the places where the real trilobites are found in Morroco!. Very interesting and some beautiful specimins! Again thanks for sharing! "Turn the fear of the unknown into the excitment of possibility!"We dont stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ordovician Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Wow! Nice pictures and place! I heard of that place but its the first time for me to see the land......lot of rocks in some kind of dessert...weird! Fossil hunters's vacation! I would love to go there to search for triobites! Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 That's what REAL trilobites look like! Thanks!! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest solius symbiosus Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Nice finds! I really love the photos of the strata and structure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn71 Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Great post! I think those were the first pictures of real moroccan trilos I've ever seen lol www.EarthFragments.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest N.AL.hunter Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Thanks for the field trip!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSRaddict_1 Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Very nice , jealous . Trilobites to me are far more interesting than most fossils , very old , and bugs . Hunting fossils is fun , but discovering is better ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatorman Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryland Mike Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Nice photos and it's good to see some authentic Morrocan Trilos. Thanks. Carpe Diem, Carpe Somnium Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phoenixflood Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 Really nice! The soul of a Fossil Hunter is one that is seeking, always. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 They do exist!..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 Thaks for the appreciation. This visit was more or less intended for orienting purposes. I managed to locate some interesting collecting sites, and I certainly plan to visit Morocco again for a week of serious collecting. More pictures can be seen here (also on page 2 and 3). Concerning fake trilobites, once you get the hang of it, identifying fakes is generally not that hard. It is however important to be able to see the fossil 'in person' and to examine fine details. Therefore, buying from the internet always poses risks (exept for the really reliable sources). Paleo database, information and community Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawooten Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 Now that is the place to go on vacation! Wonderful specimens and great pics. I have just the hat to ware there too it's has a really wide brim. The best days are spent collecting fossils Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 What a fantastic trip, and so good to see what the hunting is like there. Your camera sure captured that trilobite eye. Good to see up that close. Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Nicholas Posted September 16, 2008 Share Posted September 16, 2008 Absolutely astounding, I've never seen first hand hunt photos from the locality before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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