TNGray Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 (edited) I was stuck in Pittsburgh this weekend. On the spur of the moment, I decided to check out the Penn Dixie Site near Buffalo on Saturday. On the way, I stopped at Walmart and picked up a 2 /1/2 pound hammer, a small chisel and a water bottle. I arrived at the site about 10:30, checked in with the docents and became a member of the society. The docent introduced me to some Canadians who were there to hunt for the day, Malcolm and Jim. They graciously invited me to hunt with them and within a few minutes, we found out that we are all members here on this forum! Little did I know that being part of the team meant schlepping 300 lb. slabs of limestone! However, the hospitality and the camaraderie made my day, not to mention the opportunity to split fresh rock! Check out my full report, with video, on my website. http://nautiloid.net/fossils/sites/penn_dixie/penn_dixie.html Edited January 4, 2015 by TNGray 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 A serendipitous meet-up; how 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...
vertman Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Excellent report and outstanding images! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trilobite nut Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 It was a pleasure to split rock with you and share the day and excitement with like minded people. I should say too, that I'm glad there was an extra back to lift those slabs out! I wanted to make as few cuts as possible for fear of ruining good specimens but dang those were heavy! Lol Thanks for the day and I hope we get the opportunity to 'schlep' rock together again and I hope to see posts of your prepped finds! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustPlainPetrified Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 How great is that? Thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trilobiteruss Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Excellent post on your page, thanks for sharing your visit with all of us, some good finds there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erose Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Excellent post! You found some nice trilobites and friends as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgcox Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 When we went to Ridgemont in May we were told they had us scheduled for three visits. So now we know!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Excellent report - great pics and finds! Nice to hear of Forum meet ups, particularly if they are unplanned. Thanks for posting it. 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...
gdarone Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Great report and great finds! I'll be there in 12 days Anyone else that's going that day, I'll see you there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted June 30, 2014 Share Posted June 30, 2014 Great report on your homepage. I believe it's spelled Eldredgeops, though. Just ask Mr. Eldredge and Carlton Brett. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted July 1, 2014 Author Share Posted July 1, 2014 My apologies to Niles. Spelling corrected! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shamalama Posted July 2, 2014 Share Posted July 2, 2014 Malcolm using the saw to remove blocks is just plain Cheating! He is good people though and very cool to collect with. -Dave __________________________________________________ Geologists on the whole are inconsistent drivers. When a roadcut presents itself, they tend to lurch and weave. To them, the roadcut is a portal, a fragment of a regional story, a proscenium arch that leads their imaginations into the earth and through the surrounding terrain. - John McPheeIf I'm going to drive safely, I can't do geology. - John McPheeCheck out my Blog for more fossils I've found: http://viewsofthemahantango.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 I don't recall Malcolm touching the saw. And Jim knows that "use of tools" separates man from beast! We just needed a deeper cut! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 (edited) Those who know me know that I definitely did not touch the saw, a great day of hunting with good people. I suspect that when the spoils of the day are counted up we all came away with some awesome stuff. Can't wait to get back there. Heck we even left some blocks split out for whoever came next , we just could not do anymore, there was no gas left in the tank........ On a serious note though this was the first time using a rock saw that I have seen at Penn Dixie. It worked out incredibly well. I suspect that we split out at least three times the number of blocks that we could have without the saw. Some of the slabs were still difficult for 4 of us to move they were so big. At one point we lifted a 10 foot long section of the bench that was two feet thick with our three long bars and a shorter one. (We also recruited the guy in the red shrrt to help move the big slabs) Edited July 3, 2014 by Malcolmt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted July 3, 2014 Author Share Posted July 3, 2014 Here's one of the one's I found. Its about an inch long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Nicely preserved. Are you planning to use the abrader on it? Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 (edited) I am planning to use some mild abrasion. Some of the others will require some penning to see what is hiding in the matrix. Here it is after a bit of prep. Too bad it has the damage on the side. Still a keeper for me! Edited July 7, 2014 by TNGray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TNGray Posted July 7, 2014 Author Share Posted July 7, 2014 I am a rookie at prep so this trip has given me a lot of material for practice. Here's one, before and after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Looking pretty good so far, TNGray! Thanks for posting some results! 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 July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Bug-eyed bugs make me smile; they are the iconic fossil of my childhood "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...
trilobite nut Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Looking good TNGray. I told you about my mix of oxide and soda but I hit these with a soda/dolomite mix and its WAY better. It will easily get into those small grooves and get the rest of the matrix outta there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squalicorax Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Nice bugs! My Flickr Page of My Collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79424101@N00/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 Well done! Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted July 7, 2014 Share Posted July 7, 2014 How cool is that!?! Thanks for sharing the trip. Looks and sounds like a lot of work. Nice preservation on those bugs, and beautiful prep work guys. ~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...
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