Finding Fossilized Insects In The Mojave

[Oxytropidoceras]

Finding Fossilized Insects in the Mojave by Farrall S. Smith

Desert USA, http://www.desertusa...il-insects.html

Other online material about the Barstow fossil insects.

Fossil Insects And Vertebrates On The Mojave Desert,

California, http://inyo.coffeecu...towfossils.html

Fossilized Insect Nodule Project Overview (A brief look

at the fossilized insects found within Calcium carbonate

rock nodules found in the Mojave Desert.) by Farrall S.

Smith http://www.scribd.co...roject-Overview

Miller, K.B. and S.H. Lubkin, 2001, Calicovatellus

petrodytes Miller and Lubkin, a new genus and species

of primitive vatelline diving beetle (Coleoptera:

Dytiscidae: Hydroporinae: Vatellini) from the

Miocene Barstow Formation, Southern California,

USA. Journal of Paleontology. vol. 75, pp. 890-894.

PDF file at http://whitinglab.by...icovatellus.pdf

link at http://whitinglab.by...blications.aspx

Ostracod fossils from the Barstow Formation location:

Wilkinson, I. P., P. R. Wilby, M. Williams, D. J. Siveter,

A. A. Page, L. Leggitt. and D. A. Riley, 2010, Exceptionally

preserved ostracodes from a Middle Miocene

palaeolake, California, USA. Journal of the Geological

Society. vol. 167, no. 4, pp. 817-825.

PDF file at http://nora.nerc.ac....rom_Barstow.pdf

Best wishes,

Paul H.

[AgrilusHunter]

Simply marvelous! Barstow it is then.

[Sylvestersen]

wow! taking out insects with acid is new for me

[Auspex]

'Round about 1965, I bought a bag of these nodules from Malick's Fossils, and got a good lesson in patience while dissolving the insects out with change-after-change of muriatic acid. The near-micro fossil insects themselves were awesome!

[Inyo]

Fossil Insects And Vertebrates On The Mojave Desert,

California, http://inyo.coffeecu...towfossils.html

Yes, "Fossil Insects And Vertebrates On The Mojave Desert, California" at http://inyo.coffeecu...towfossils.html

happens to be my web page, actually. Back on August 4, 2012, I posted the URL to it here at The Fossil Forum over at http://www.thefossil...nd-vertebrates/ . It's certainly one of the more unusual fossil localities in the world--probably worthy of National Monument status, as a matter of fact. It is, for example, in every scientific comparison, just as paleoentomologically invaluable as Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado, probably the most well-known fossil insect-yielding site on the planet. That the area is still open to the general public is a minor miracle in itself, one must conclude.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Inyo

[AgrilusHunter]

Hi Inyo,

I absolutely agree with your comments. Sites with this degree of preservation for insect fossils are exceedingly rare, you are lucky to be so near one of the best in the world.

[Oxytropidoceras]

AgrilusHunter wrote:

“Simply marvelous! Barstow it is then.”

In the Mojave Desert, a person needs to be aware of the risk

of Valley / San Jaoquin Fever. It is a significant concern for

anyone, who hunts fossils, meteorites, rocks, minerals, gold,

and so forth within the southwestern United States as seen at

http://www.u.arizona...e/map_color.gif . This map is part of

“Andrew C. Comrie Recent & Ongoing Research Projects” at

http://www.u.arizona...ie/projects.htm .

An overview of valley fever can be found in:

Fink, M. T., and K. K. Komatsu, 2001, The Fungus Among

Us: Coccidioidomycosis (“Valley Fever”) and Archaeologists.

in D. A. Poirier and K. L. Feder, eds., pp. 21 -30, Dangerous

places : health, safety, and archaeology. Bergin & Garvey,

Westport, Connecticut. https://catalyst.lib...log/bib_2173414

This book also has a chapter about Histoplasmosis.

Some web pages about Coccidioidomycosis are:

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley / San Jaoquin Fever), California

http://www.cdph.ca.g...idomycosis.aspx

http://ehis.fullerto...nformation.aspx

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever), Arizona

http://www.azdhs.gov.../disease/cocci/

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever), Utah

http://health.utah.g...eets/cocci.html

http://health.utah.g...an_03242011.pdf

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)

http://www.cdc.gov/f...idioidomycosis/

http://en.wikipedia....cidioidomycosis

Valley fever is also endemic to the Shark Tooth Hill area

near Bakersfield, California. http://www.thefossil...in-bakersfield/

Best wishes,

Paul H.

Edited September 27, 2012 by Oxytropidoceras

[Inyo]

In the Mojave Desert, a person needs to be aware of the risk

of Valley / San Jaoquin Fever. It is a significant concern for

anyone, who hunts fossils, meteorites, rocks, minerals, gold,

and so forth within the southwestern United States

I cover this Valley Fever subject at my page pertaining to the middle Miocene Barstow Formation fossil insects, "Fossil Insects And Vertebrates On The Mojave Desert, California," specifically under the section entitled, "Health Advisory." Here's the quote (I include a similar, modified passage at my page about the middle Miocene Sharktooth Hill Bone Bed, in the southern San Joaquin Valley, California, by the way):

"And now for the obligatory words of caution. Endemic to the Mojave Desert of California and southern Nevada, including the Las Vegas, Nevada, region by the way, is Valley Fever. This is a potentially serious illness called, scientifically, Coccidioidomycosis, or "coccy" for short; it's caused by the inhalation of an infectious airborne fungus whose spores lie dormant in the uncultivated, harsh alkaline soils of the Mojave Desert. When an unsuspecting and susceptible individual breaths the spores into his or her lungs, the fungus springs to life, as it prefers the moist, dark recesses of the human lungs (cats, dogs, rodents and even snakes, among other vertebrates, are also susceptible to "coccy") to multiply and be happy. Most cases of active Valley Fever resemble a minor touch of the flu, though the majority of those exposed show absolutely no symptoms of any kind of illness; it is important to note, of course, that in rather rare instances Valley Fever can progress to a severe and serious infection, causing high fever, chills, unending fatigue, rapid weight loss, inflammation of the joints, meningitis, pneumonia and even death. Every fossil enthusiast who chooses to visit the Mojave Desert must be fully aware of the risks involved."

[Inyo]

I should have mentioned earlier in this thread that the fossil ostracod locality in the middle Miocene Barstow Formation--referenced by Oxytropidoceras in pdf-format file--is presently off-limits to all unauthorized amateur paleontology enthusiasts, lying as it does within an officially protected area. This is, unfortunately, one of the unavoidable hazards of providing links to web-based pdf-format scientific papers (I have linked to a number of pdf files in my time, as well...). Lots of scientists neglect to mention in their papers that their study areas are inaccessible to the general public, or that there might be special restrictions that apply. Of course, due diligence (doing one's own homework) by the prospective fossil collector is always assumed in this instance, one must presume.

Also, as I describe at my web page, the world-famous fossiliferous Barstow concretions occur, technically, on both private property owned by a prestigious mining company and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In the recent past, the mining company has graciously allowed access to the fossil localities. But, that status could soon change, unfortunately. To be on the safe side, as detailed at my page, I certainly recommend that visitors to the paleontologic district obtain the most up-to-date maps available and restrict fossil hunting activities solely to sites that occur on public lands.

[CH4ShotCaller]

I'm kicking myself right now........ I went to NTC Barstow many times, kicking nodules about and not thinking twice about what I was doing or what these 'gems' had been.

[AgrilusHunter]

I should have mentioned earlier in this thread that the fossil ostracod locality in the middle Miocene Barstow Formation--referenced by Oxytropidoceras in pdf-format file--is presently off-limits to all unauthorized amateur paleontology enthusiasts, lying as it does within an officially protected area. This is, unfortunately, one of the unavoidable hazards of providing links to web-based pdf-format scientific papers (I have linked to a number of pdf files in my time, as well...). Lots of scientists neglect to mention in their papers that their study areas are inaccessible to the general public, or that there might be special restrictions that apply. Of course, due diligence (doing one's own homework) by the prospective fossil collector is always assumed in this instance, one must presume.

Also, as I describe at my web page, the world-famous fossiliferous Barstow concretions occur, technically, on both private property owned by a prestigious mining company and public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In the recent past, the mining company has graciously allowed access to the fossil localities. But, that status could soon change, unfortunately. To be on the safe side, as detailed at my page, I certainly recommend that visitors to the paleontologic district obtain the most up-to-date maps available and restrict fossil hunting activities solely to sites that occur on public lands.

Good advice, all of it.

[Eero59]

Timely post: This site has been on my list for years- I'm heading to LA in a week and I'm going via Barstow so I can visit...