First Devonian hunt in NY

[RandyB]

Drove up to NY for my first trip hunting.  Thanks to Dave (darctooth), I managed to get to the Sangerfield roadcut without any problems for what eventually turned out to be a very pleasant day.  Things were a bit rough starting out as the fog was heavy early heading out from PA and a balmy 35 degrees

 

 

Three hours later it was sunny and breaking into the mid-40's as I pulled up to the days target location

 

I took about half a dozen steps when I spotted my 1st trilo head staring up from the loose shale before I even made it up the hill

 

From that point on I kept up a steady pick of pieces and parts throughout the day, unfortunately I couldn't manage to find any that were whole.  I also managed to find some other interesting pieces.  Nothing particularly special, but considering I had only ever found a single trilo head on a previous trip it was a good day for me.  If nothing else it gave me a bunch of pieces to practice prep on for the day when I finally get a complete specimen

[RandyB]

 This head is 3 and a quarter inches across (the grid in the background has 1/4 inch squares)

 

and another

 

and another

[ynot]

sounds like a good trip!

Tony

[RandyB]

[RandyB]

[RandyB]

 

[RandyB]

[jpc]

those are some big ole trilobites.  Thanks for sharing.

[RandyB]

 

cephalopod

 

different kind of cephalopod? Not sure, looks like a squished cigar (2 sides) should have taken end shots as well, one end is pinched flatter than the other, but overall pretty uniform

 

 

[RandyB]

In the field

 

after a wash

[RandyB]

[RandyB]

[RandyB]

 

Overall was a pleasant way to spend a day

[DevonianDigger]

Very jealous! Awesome pieces!

[Fossildude19]

Great report and some really nice Middle Devonian finds.

Good diversity of bivalves, gastropods, brachiopods, trilobites, and cephalopods. 

This gastropod I haven't seen before: 

 

   

 

I think it may be a Hawletrochus macrostomus.  Very cool. 

Thanks for the report - glad you got out and found some cool stuff. 

Regards,

[Darktooth]

I am glad you were able to find the site and score some nice pieces. Next time I will not let the weather forecast scare me off Lol.

[FossilDAWG]

Very nice!  

I stopped by there a couple of months ago and I was amazed at the abundance of Dipleura cephalons and pygidia, and the diversity of large pelecypods.  I wonder what the frequency of complete Dipleura is there?  It seemed to me the layers the trilobites are coming out of would need to be attacked with some serious tools to get big enough fresh chunks to have a decent shot at a whole one.  A little ol' geological hammer didn't make a dent.

 

Don

[erose]

Really nice fossils. I would have been sitting in my warm study cataloging. 

[Fossildude19]

18 minutes ago, FossilDAWG said:

Very nice!  

I stopped by there a couple of months ago and I was amazed at the abundance of Dipleura cephalons and pygidia, and the diversity of large pelecypods.  I wonder what the frequency of complete Dipleura is there?  It seemed to me the layers the trilobites are coming out of would need to be attacked with some serious tools to get big enough fresh chunks to have a decent shot at a whole one.  A little ol' geological hammer didn't make a dent.

 

Don

Don,

You are correct about having to attack the layers for fresh slabs there,  for the complete Dipleura dekayi's.

Very rarely, (From what I've heard of the place) are they found loose in the scree. 

 

I spent half a day there last year, and that was some of the hardest rock there is to break in the area.  Glad I waited til the back half of the day - wouldn't have made a full day swinging the hammer there. My 3#  mini sledge (and my right arm) got a good workout that day.  

I do need to get back there this year - I'm itching for a complete Dipleura trilobite - big or small, doesn't matter. 

Regards,

[Darktooth]

To anyone interested, when the weather is definately cooperating I will try to put together a hunt. The whole ones that I have found all come out of the same layer. That includes small to  6 inch plus. I have been going for years and find them in the same layerwhich is a few feet thick. It can be easy some time and very hard other times. But from my expierience you have to look in the right spot or all you will find is pieces. I will shoot for  a some time in April.

[Fossildude19]

27 minutes ago, darctooth said:

To anyone interested, when the weather is definately cooperating I will try to put together a hunt. The whole ones that I have found all come out of the same layer. That includes small to  6 inch plus. I have been going for years and find them in the same layerwhich is a few feet thick. It can be easy some time and very hard other times. But from my expierience you have to look in the right spot or all you will find is pieces. I will shoot for  a some time in April.

 

Keep me in the loop, Dave !  

[Darktooth]

Definately Tim! Fyi, I like to bring an 8-10 lb. Sledge hammer, which I then cut the handle down. This makes it less cumbersome, as well as more accurate.  I use this to drive a series of chisels into that hard rock to break up slabs. But that also requires removing as much over burden first. By myself I have found 2 large Dipleuras in a day by myself. I have done that twice. If we have enough people, there is a realistic possibility that we could all leave with one though they may not all be huge. Also I like to bring brand new chisels when I go there. And a good heavy prybar. 4 lb hammers do have there place as well. 

[RandyB]

I would be game to go back with a group.  I broke rock for 6 hours with 2 short breaks, my arms were dead when I got done.  

[Darktooth]

I will try to figure out a date and let everyone know way in advance. 

 

Dave

[Jeffrey P]

Congratulations on a great haul. That many great Dipleura cephalons in one day is an impressive showing. The sandstone at Sangerfield is exceptionally tough for that area. I know that six hours of busting rock there is a killer, but it looks like it was well worth it for you. Hope you make it back to that site or get to check out one of the other excellent ones in the area; Deep Springs Road, Geer Road, Briggs Road, Morrisville, etc. That bunch of gastropods- mostly internal molds are Bembexia. 

 

This one that Tim ID'd I'd like to see more pictures of. It looks like Naticonema to me, but it's hard to tell.