Raggedy Man Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Yep! This is a few months late, but I figure better late than never! I had to retake and resize these photos today. So here they are. I arrived in town Thursday so that I could rest(11 hour drive) and hit a few places before the dig on Saturday. I hunted Friday at a spot I was told about last time I was in the area but, the weather and other issues did not allow it at the time. This site was beautiful with shale walls here and there with large concretions protruding out. I was told the concretions are where the complete trilobites were, but were extremely hard. Well, this was an understatement lol. I forgot my 5lb sledge in the truck and my little 22oz Eastwing was no match for these concretions so I moved on. I walked up stream where I found an area that had these little guys eroding out everywhere. (All measurements are in cm.) I packed some up and moved on. A little ways down, I found a small outcrop of shale exposed along the creek. I split a few pieces with nothing inside and then on my last piece of shale I revealed this. The other half fragmented and fell into the creek. I saw what was there and looked down and realized my other pieces were gone. My first complete Greenops sp. would have to wait. I packed up my trilobit and moved on. I walked for about 30 minutes without finding a thing, but I could hear what sounded like a faint on going roar. I kept walking and came upon this. It wasn't what I was looking for, but I did enjoy it and stayed there soaking it in. Edited July 25, 2016 by Raggedy Man 1 ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) The Dig I arrived early Saturday morning and saw close to 100 people already there, but I was excited and checked in. There was shale ripped up and displayed everywhere. After the safety chat, we were allowed to collect. The experience was fun and new, but the lack of rain and hot sun did very little to soften and spoil the shale. To be honest I found very little the first day. Here are two of my finds from the dig. Eldredgeops rana Middle Devonian Windom Shale-Hamilton Group, Moscow Formation Here is another find from the first day. Straight shell cephalopod. (Site the day before dig) Edited July 25, 2016 by Raggedy Man 1 ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Sunday The days after the dig were a big improvement on finds and the hardness of the shale. The trilobites just kept leaping out one after another. YAY!!! Eldredgeops rana Middle Devonian Windom Shale-Hamilton Group, Moscow Formation continued... Edited July 25, 2016 by Raggedy Man 1 ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted July 25, 2016 Author Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Sunday/Monday I also found these Greenops sp. Sunday. It is highly distorted, but what the heck! I also found this little guy here. Platyceras sp...or "Devils toenails"? Tim told me what it was after I found it, but it eludes me. Over all, I brought home close to 70 trilobites. Most are enrolled, but complete. I thought the dig was ok, but I think if it had rained we would of had a better chance at finding the multiple specimen plates. Ill be going over our finds from last year and this year soon and putting the prize together for the pumpkin decorating contest this year. As always, thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed the finds! Best regards, Paul Edited July 26, 2016 by Raggedy Man 2 ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted July 25, 2016 Share Posted July 25, 2016 (edited) Nice report on a wonderful and productive trip!! I would be thrilled to find 70 trilobites on one trip. Tony Edited July 25, 2016 by ynot Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Excellent finds and report, Paul. Congratulations on a successful trip. The gastropod is a Platyceras, ... possibly Platyceras erectum. Thanks for posting - glad you found some good stuff. 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...
Herb Posted July 26, 2016 Share Posted July 26, 2016 Sunday/Monday I also found these Greenops sp. Sunday. It is highly distorted, but what the heck! PennDixieMay2016 020.JPG PennDixieMay2016 023.JPG I also found this little guy here. Gryphaea...or "Devils toenails"? Tim told me what it was after I found it, but it eludes me. PennDixieMay2016 032.JPG Over all, I brought home close to 70 trilobites. Most are enrolled, but complete. I thought the dig was ok, but I think if it had rained we would of had a better chance at finding the multiple specimen plates. Ill be going over our finds from last year and this year soon and putting the prize together for the pumpkin decorating contest this year. As always, thanks for looking and I hope you enjoyed the finds! Best regards, Paul not Gryphea, but Platyceras.A nice one too. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"_ Carl Sagen No trees were killed in this posting......however, many innocent electrons were diverted from where they originally intended to go. " I think, therefore I collect fossils." _ Me "When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."__S. Holmes "can't we all just get along?" Jack Nicholson from Mars Attacks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted July 26, 2016 Author Share Posted July 26, 2016 Excellent finds and report, Paul. Congratulations on a successful trip. The gastropod is a Platyceras, ... possibly Platyceras erectum. Thanks for posting - glad you found some good stuff. Regards, not Gryphea, but Platyceras.A nice one too. Thanks Tim and Herb! I thought the other looked weird for some reason. Labeled correctly above now. ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smt126 Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Looks like a beautiful site to hunt. I always love when there is some nice scenery to give yourself a little break from staring at rocks for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori LuvsFossils Posted July 27, 2016 Share Posted July 27, 2016 Thanks for sharing! Some great finds for sure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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