KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 (edited) Over Memorial Day weekend, member Grokfish (Matt) and I were able to hunt a spectacular bit of chalk he has access to. We had a great time and the weather wasn't too bad either. This is my half of the trip: Edited June 3, 2014 by KansasFossilHunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 The first thing I found was a large pile of medium-sized Xiphactinus vertebrae going up the hill. I located the point they were eroding from and began to dig. In the rock I found a pretty nice skull that had disarticulated, with some great teeth. Getting it out without destroying those great teeth is a problem for another day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Here are some shots from just one small branch of this amazing location: It did end up raining on us for a bit there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Next was this spectacular double fossilized pearl! The giant Inoceramus clams sometimes produce golf ball sized pearls, but this created two right next to each other. I've only seen one other like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Here are some of the "scraps" from those days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Here is something really cool eroding from the hill.... Pteranodon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 cool stuff... esp the pterosaur stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 On the third day, we split up and I went to one of my favorite spots to dig up the mosasaur I found the week before.(http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/46683-smoky-hill-dream-trip/) The pleasant spring weather decided to become hot summer weather instead, which makes everything more difficult. Instead of making a slab or a plaster jacket, I figured I could get him out in a single gigantic piece of chalk. This actually worked quite well until it came time to move it 50 feet up a hill to my truck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbshark Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Great finds, Congrats! Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Luckily I was able to find some help to get him up the hill and safely home. Here is some of the progress: I'm not sure what I'd like to do with it (in rock vs removed) but it should end up really nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Some pieces after being removed: Dentary, angular, prearticlar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Tumor? Bite mark? Quite the interesting pathology... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xiphactinus Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Cool trip! Thanks for taking us along! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foshunter Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Must be a fantastic place to hunt, Mos.and X-Fish really nice----Tom Grow Old Kicking And Screaming !!"Don't Tread On Me" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietfocus Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 So cool! -Clayton "We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever" - Carl Segan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Awesome, Kris! Thanks for posting this! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Some pieces after being removed: image.jpg Dentary, angular, prearticlar Tumor? Bite mark? Quite the interesting pathology... image.jpg VERY cool! "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...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 Thanks guys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 VERY cool!Here is another view for you, Auspex: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Looks like deep scaring to me. Awesome stuff! I'm very envious sir! ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonebone Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Great finds Kris! Gotta love that chalk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt4teeth Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Great finds as usual. I would be happy with just the scrap teeth! I'm going to have to add hunting the Kanas chalk to my fossil bucket list. Jay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jace Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 thats AWESOME! Such a great place! the fossil bones are so nicely preserved! beautiful! Thanks for posting! happy to view anymore pics you'd like to share haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 The area used to be part of a training range for WWII pilots. So, you can sometimes find bullets and casings just out in the field. See if you can spot the odd one out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busyeagle Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Incredible, as usual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now