McHorse Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Hi all, This is a pretty open ended question, so feel free to take the discussion where you like!! I was wondering how you all determine and record the location of your find? Do you use some sort of GPS? Google maps? Paper maps? Take photos? Drawings? if you use a GPS, what type do you use and why? Regards, Ciaran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 (edited) I use an old Garmin eTrex that I got as a gift about 12 years ago. It is easy to use, and can help me get back to the car , as well as TO the sites. Whut? Edited March 29, 2016 by Fossildude19 1 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...
TNCollector Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I find my site on Google Maps, click on it, and it gives you the GPS coordinates. Really easy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Yep also have a Garmin eTrex, it's a must for me, I get lost easily wandering badlands. Easy to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Past Hunter Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I have an old Magellan works great. Also smart phones if you have service at the site will provide your location. Pictures taken with location services on will also show your location. "If you choose not to decide. You still have made a choice." - Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarleysGh0st Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 I use an app called GeoCam on my Android phone, that lets me take an augmented-reality photo including the GPS coordinates. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McHorse Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 Just downloaded the geocam app. It looks quite handy. Thanks for the info gents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 I only recently moved into the world of GPS. I still love using topo maps but since I have been relying on the GPS,my mapping skills have suffered. That makes me feel stupid. I don't like relying solely on technology. I am not very good at GPSing and spend much time cussing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDudeCO Posted March 31, 2016 Share Posted March 31, 2016 ^ exactly what JP said. I have not figured out how to use a GPS machine aside from the one in my car. And I am terrible with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sTamprockcoin Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 I've use a garmin e-trex for years to record my Coords and I enter them into my rock datatbase on cold snowy days. One caveat make a note of the elevation too - Especially if the fossils/minerals came from a very specific layer up in a cut. remember that Clouds and vegeatative cover can lower the accuracy of the cordinates. Its been fun to send and see the response to GPS coords when asked for a location. NOTE: this answer came from a "geek-ier" than average rockhound who actually found someone's secret spot because they "forgot" to remove the GPS data from the metafile of the Photo they posted! “Beautiful is what we see. More beautiful is what we understand. Most beautiful is what we do not comprehend.” N. Steno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I used to use a Garmin E-trex and still do if I'm out in the boonies. Normally, I use the compass app on my Iphone which gives coordinates and then I record them in my field notes for significant finds. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bguild Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 I just use an app called GPS tour. Works well for me, but I also am not wandering around the badlands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepTimeIsotopes Posted May 3, 2016 Share Posted May 3, 2016 I use both the topo maps and a Garmin eTrex. It's nice to have multiple sources to keep track as the topo maps are old and the GPS is sometimes incorrect as to which roads are which. Each dot is 50,000,000 years: Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic........... Paleo......Meso....Ceno.. Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here Doesn't time just fly by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave pom Allen Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 hi what i use for nz locations when i get home if i dont carry a GPS. is this site http://www.topomap.co.nz go to more and press coordinates.can also be viewed is a satellite.hope this helps 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridgehiker Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 (edited) I've use a garmin e-trex for years to record my Coords and I enter them into my rock datatbase on cold snowy days. One caveat make a note of the elevation too - Especially if the fossils/minerals came from a very specific layer up in a cut. remember that Clouds and vegeatative cover can lower the accuracy of the cordinates. Its been fun to send and see the response to GPS coords when asked for a location. NOTE: this answer came from a "geek-ier" than average rockhound who actually found someone's secret spot because they "forgot" to remove the GPS data from the metafile of the Photo they posted! Yes, elevation!I rarely use a GPS but uncanny how they help to find productive layers. We have a Centrasaurus bone bed that is quite extensive. One time climbing up a big hoodoo, looking for footholds, etc., I checked the GPS and stopped at the elevation of the bonebed . I came face to face with horn, frill, etc. ..of a skull. It was as if it was looking right at me. Would never have noticed it otherwise. GPS are handy. I only don't use it more out of habit. I'm old school and trained with topos, compass, air photos. Edited May 12, 2016 by Ridgehiker 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 I use paper maps, GPS and photos. ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 Thanks for the heads up from all of you using the Garmin eTrex. Sounds like a handy piece of kit. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetrolPete Posted May 15, 2016 Share Posted May 15, 2016 I use an app called Theodolite, it lets you take a picture and will record the gps location on the picture along with date, time, altitude, etc along with an optional note. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I also use an old Garmin E-Trex. But just not for fossiling, also for recording great fishing sites as well. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeepTimeIsotopes Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I also use an old Garmin E-Trex. But just not for fossiling, also for recording great fishing sites as well. Fishing sites, campsites, where I parked my car/ATV's... It's a neat little device once you get the hang of it. Each dot is 50,000,000 years: Hadean............Archean..............................Proterozoic.......................................Phanerozoic........... Paleo......Meso....Ceno.. Ꞓ.OSD.C.P.Tr.J.K..Pg.NgQ< You are here Doesn't time just fly by? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Fishing sites, campsites, where I parked my car/ATV's... It's a neat little device once you get the hang of it. very true. also marking places to avoid while out in the wild. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigHyatt Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 (edited) I take a photo of my find with my iPhone. The option to save GPS is enabled. Later, I use an app MapPlus to display the photo on a map. I don't use GPS much, but it came in handy recently. A few months ago, I found a 75 or 80 mm shell while wandering around. I had no use for it, so I took a photo and left it. A week ago, I visited a tiny local history museum where the curator had a nice ordnance collection (this area used to be a military base, Fort Duncan). I showed him the photo, and he seemed pretty excited, so I told him I'd bring the shell to him if I could find it. Using the app and the photo's GPS info, I walked straight to it. The curator was thrilled to add to his collection, and also to have the location so he could look for more stuff with his metal detector. https://m.facebook.com/Fort-Duncan-Museum-Eagle-Pass-Texas-1606866469548230/ Edited July 17, 2016 by CraigHyatt Info: Craig Hyatt, retired software/electrical engineer Experience: Beginner, fossil hunting less than a year Location: Eagle Pass, TX USA on the border with Mexico, hot dry desert Formation: Escondido, Marine, Upper Cretaceous Materials: Sandstone, Mudstone, Shale, Chert, Chalk Typical: Thalassinoides, Sphenodiscus, Exogyra, Inoceramus Reference: http://txfossils.com/Txfossils.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozark Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 I'm on a low budget, I tend to use the phone gps where possible and make a note of it in my field notes. I've been less than impressed with the accuracy however, so I tend to use it to get me in the general area. If I'm excavating, I'll generally put a white flag near the site and an orange flag on the nearest prominent outcrop. GPS coords take me close enough to find the orange flag, and from the orange flag I can see the white flag. Of course, wind and rain being what they are, I also add circles or arrows of stones near the site, multiple layers or redundancy are invaluable when you have the ability to utilize them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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