a week long expedition to Wyoming

[jpc]

A month or so ago a French friend came over for a fossil hunting vacation.  With my new wife's blessing (and his wife's as well), we spent 8 nearly solid days of fossiling here in Wyoming before the snow flew.... literally.  I spent a good chunk of time since then preparing some of my finds and some time writing up our adventure.  It is very photo-heavy, so I had to break it down to three chapters.  The first is posted here and I hope the others will be posted in replies.  Enjoy. 

 

Outing w caterpillar Ch 1.pdf

[jpc]

chapter two

Outing w caterpillar Ch 2.pdf

[jpc]

And here is the last chapter.

 

Outing w caterpillar Ch 3.pdf

[aerogrower]

Awesome read, thanks for posting. Cant wait to make a trip like this someday.

[PFOOLEY]

Awesome report, JP! I hope to get my hands in that K Wyoming shale one day (especially the Frontier )...thanks for all the wonderful photos! 

[Carl]

An ant carrying a fossil! Best find of the trip! I dream of seeing that! (It's my avatar...)

[JohnJ]

JP, wow!  Thank you eventually getting this report up.  The Pierre Shale material is especially nice. 

[jpc]

13 minutes ago, Carl said:

An ant carrying a fossil! Best find of the trip! I dream of seeing that! (It's my avatar...)

I agree.. I have been kneeling on anthills for decades and have never seen an ant carrying a fossil, and he kneels on his first and Bingo!  

[FossilDudeCO]

Thanks for sharing JP! Great report, love all the pictures!

[sseth]

Awesome.  Thanks for sharing.

[Gizmo]

Super report, thanks for posting! 

[Ridgehiker]

I really enjoyed this. I will have to try your format  linking to off site,. Much easier than trying to write a narrative, post corresponding photos, etc.

 

I like the Oligocene turtle.  It seems way back in the 1970's there were more of these. I wish I had found one but never did. 

 

However, really like the mammal material. People like dinos but I get a lot more excited over small mammal teeth.  I've collected mammal teeth and jaws in he Wildwood Formation near Worland,Wy.  I was with an older fellow who gave a good hint...explore the disturbed soils around the oil well sites.  Sure enough, we found a lot of mammal jaws by just going through the mounds.  In a weird way the same concept as ants bring up micro material.

 

i'm sure you're familiar with Memoir 2 of the Geo Survey of Wyoming on Eocene teeth. (its what I used to find sites).  However, lesser known for very latest Cretaceous mammal teeth is the following.  Its always good to have as many references as possible in identifying mammal teeth.  

 

 

 

 

 

[fossiladdict]

Looks like you two had a great trip!

[jpc]

1 hour ago, Canadawest said:

I really enjoyed this. I will have to try your format  linking to off site,. Much easier than trying to write a narrative, post corresponding photos, etc.

 

I like the Oligocene turtle.  It seems way back in the 1970's there were more of these. I wish I had found one but never did. 

 

However, really like the mammal material. People like dinos but I get a lot more excited over small mammal teeth.  I've collected mammal teeth and jaws in he Wildwood Formation near Worland,Wy.  I was with an older fellow who gave a good hint...explore the disturbed soils around the oil well sites.  Sure enough, we found a lot of mammal jaws by just going through the mounds.  In a weird way the same concept as ants bring up micro material.

 

i'm sure you're familiar with Memoir 2 of the Geo Survey of Wyoming on Eocene teeth. (its what I used to find sites).  However, lesser known for very latest Cretaceous mammal teeth is the following.  Its always good to have as many references as possible in identifying mammal teeth.  

 

 

 

 

 

I have a copy of WY Geo Survey No 2.  I just call it Bown 1979.  It is a pretty good start to IDing Eocene teeth.  For sites, though, it is all Bighorn Basin, which is 99% BLM, so I avoid it.  I use Clemens, Parts I, II and II for Cretaceous mammals.  Do you know Clemens' work?  I am impressed that you have Lillegraven's in print.  I have the pdf, which is a whole lot less fun.  Correction... your post inspired me and I just bought a copy on Amazon.   

[MarleysGh0st]

You lead some awesome trips, JP!

 

[doushantuo]

Lillegraven

I hesitate to point out that it might be useful to consult other authors as well:

Cifelli,Crompton,Averianov,Kermack,Jenkins,Luo,Kielan,Wible,etc

Let me give some examples:

 

Badiolaspainmultitubcretres_etal_2011.pdf

 

 

 

kielanhurummammalcatopsbataarapp50-487.pdf

[doushantuo]

or(symmetrodonts):

 

 

shundongdavischinalagerstanatureview!trechnotherisrep26668.pdf

"Eutheria"

averianov-archibald2015.pdf

[Ridgehiker]

18 hours ago, jpc said:

I have a copy of WY Geo Survey No 2.  I just call it Bown 1979.  It is a pretty good start to IDing Eocene teeth.  For sites, though, it is all Bighorn Basin, which is 99% BLM, so I avoid it.  I use Clemens, Parts I, II and II for Cretaceous mammals.  Do you know Clemens' work?  I am impressed that you have Lillegraven's in print.  I have the pdf, which is a whole lot less fun.  Correction... your post inspired me and I just bought a copy on Amazon.   

 

Thanks for the Clemens reference. I'll look into them.The Lillegraven research is based on an an area I know well and enjoy hiking in. It's the most productive area I've ever come across for Tyrannosaur teeth...however, the real gems are the mammal tooth deposits that i've never heard anyone else ever mention. 

[Ludwigia]

Thanks for the great report, JP.It was really nice to be able to familiarize myself with your hunting grounds. You guys made some great finds and 'm sure that Domnique was more than satisfied with his adventure. Could it be that Vivianite is responsible for the blue color in those fossils?

[Coco]

Hi,

 

Woh ! Very nice report of a wonderful trip in WY ! Dominique, you are a lucky man !

 

Coco

 

[caterpillar]

No, I'm not a lucky man. I was with the best fossils guide of Wyoming and maybe of the USA

 

[Coco]

Ah ah, I think you are right !

 

Coco

[Vieira]

Wonderful report.

 

A hunting trip like that are a dream. 

 

Thanks for sharing.

[Shamalama]

What a great trip you guys had! The White River is on my bucket list to collect in. I hope that @caterpillar will show us pictures of his multi skull block as it gets prepped.

[caterpillar]

Of course. But for the moment, just a picture to show what is inside