Fort Green Mine - South Pasture

[Shellseeker]

It had been a while since I had been fossil hunting and I needed to scratch that itch. SouthEast Geological Society (SEGS) planned a trip into the Fort Green Mine, Bowling Green Florida on July 29th-30th. I was in Mass/Vermont returning Friday and just could not make the field trip dinner and presentations Friday night. GREAT details about the geology and formation of Southern Florida. I did make the field trip Saturday..

I did have some concerns. I have not gone hunting in 2 months was just as brutal as I recall and I had to return twice in 3 hours to re-hydrate, rest, and avoid heatstroke. But life is like a box of chocolates... I met some old friends including Roger Portell, Barbara Fite (who has given her name to a Sabertooth Rhizosmilodon fiteae) and MikeR from this forum).

Barbara standing in the pit. as close as I have ever been been to the machinery and a drag line - about 100 yards. We also had a tour of the plant and a "reclaimed" section which included wetlands and a Cypress Swamp. Mosiac actually plans and recreates a stream and associated muck and plants the Cypress trees -- amazing. I learned something new today.

This was one of my better days hunting a phosphate mine -- I found a small Bone Valley blue Meg with white roots in the 1st 5 minutes.

A photo of Mike and Jack, plus pictures of my better find in my next post... Enjoy!!!!

[Shellseeker]

Ok, some of my finds:

A grouping with a nice Equus...

Me and Mike standing in front of the Cypress swamp...

All in all a great hunt.. but really, really HOT...

[Trevor]

Nice finds, glad you finally got out hunting again.

[Deborah V]

I enjoyed meeting and chatting with you today. Thanks for sharing.

[doushantuo]

Who cares about the fossils,that's one mighty mean digging machine

[jcbshark]

Nice finds Jack, been a little while since I've found anything good myself. Glad to see you could get out: )

[Deborah V]

Here is my take from the mine.

[Shellseeker]

Thanks for all the responses.

Doushantuo, This is actually a small to medium digging machine, capable of 45 cubic yards a bucket. The average machine handles 55-75 cyb, and the "monster" does a 145 cybs. Our guide gave us lots of detail, but my memory is not all it should be.

Deborah. Great to meet you. Glad you signed on -- Looks like a Mako in your haul, and that tiny one may be Hammerhead. You have good eyes. I know you also found fragments of Gomph, identified by Roger. Jack

[DinoMike]

I miss phosphate mine hunts. Was this an active mine? The only one Tampa Bay Fossil Club could get into (back when I was a member) was a closed mine where the company dumped post-processing spoils for clubs to hunt through.

Good to see that Barbara Fite's still out there hunting. I remember talking to her many times at TBFC meetings.

[Deborah V]

Yes, it was an active mine. They even took us out to a drag line to see the equipment in use.

[siteseer]

Oh yeah, phosphate mines are hot. You have the sun and that light-colored rock reflecting right back at you. Only the chance at something great (like a complete megalodon or unusual mammal tooth) keeps you going. I was able to collect at one just before the company stopped letting people in - even the collectors they knew for a long time.

No one loves fossils more than Barbara.

It had been a while since I had been fossil hunting and I needed to scratch that itch. SouthEast Geological Society (SEGS) planned a trip into the Fort Green Mine, Bowling Green Florida on July 29th-30th. I was in Mass/Vermont returning Friday and just could not make the field trip dinner and presentations Friday night. GREAT details about the geology and formation of Southern Florida. I did make the field trip Saturday..

I did have some concerns. I have not gone hunting in 2 months was just as brutal as I recall and I had to return twice in 3 hours to re-hydrate, rest, and avoid heatstroke. But life is like a box of chocolates... I met some old friends including Roger Portell, Barbara Fite (who has given her name to a Sabertooth Rhizosmilodon fiteae) and MikeR from this forum).

FullSizeRender1.jpg Barbara standing in the pit. IMG_1077.JPG as close as I have ever been been to the machinery and a drag line - about 100 yards. We also had a tour of the plant and a "reclaimed" section which included wetlands and a Cypress Swamp. Mosiac actually plans and recreates a stream and associated muck and plants the Cypress trees -- amazing. I learned something new today.

This was one of my better days hunting a phosphate mine -- I found a small Bone Valley blue Meg with white roots in the 1st 5 minutes.

A photo of Mike and Jack, plus pictures of my better find in my next post... Enjoy!!!!

[jcbshark]

Here is my take from the mine. IMG_1685 (1).JPG

Nice finds Deborah, that upper Mako is pretty sweet: )

[Deborah V]

Thanks, jcbshark.

[ynot]

Nice finds, nice report. Thanks for sharing!

Tony

[Khyssa]

Congrats on the great finds!. I can imagine how hot it must have been in a south Florida phosphate mine in July! Last year I went to Vulcan in May and thought the heat was going to kill me.

[Koldsimer]

I love the color and detail in the green meg. Nice report!

[JohnBrewer]

Great finds both of you.

Welcome to the forum Deborah