ArrowHead Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 My wife and I worked the Slow Curve location at Ernst Quarries (Sharktooth Hill, Bakersfield, California) this past weekend and collected an exceptional C. hastalis from the bone bed. This is a very large lower tooth that measures 3.25" and is in pristine condition. I saw a post recently about Sharktooth Hill mentioning the road to East quarry was closed due to recent rain damage and questioning whether the Slow Curve location (the only location still open) is still productive. I can assure everyone it is a productive location to dig for middle Miocene marine fossils. In addition to this large hastalis, other uncommon prizes from the weekend included a complete lower Hexancus andersoni (sixgill shark), a pair of Allodesmus kernesis teeth (primitive sea lion), and an excellent Aulophyseter morricei tooth (pygmy sperm whale). Each day of digging will produce many of the species and sizes more common to the locale to complement any of the uncommon prizes you are lucky enough to find. If you happen to be near Bakersfield, CA and can afford the time, put this on your list of sites to visit and collect. It will be worth your time - just plan your trip before, or after, the brutal summer heat settles in. I am undecided as to whether I should remove this once in a lifetime lower hastalis from the matrix, or preserve the piece in the matrix as is. I'm curious about other collector's preference regarding the matrix - remove? OR intact? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil Claw Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDudeCO Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Great find! Personally I would leave it on the matrix. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrowHead Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 OK - one for leaving it intact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Pretty tooth! 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...
FossilDudeCO Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 @ynot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Nice tooth! I would leave it in the matrix also, makes for a great display stand. Can We see some of the other finds? Tony 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...
Nimravis Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 I agree with the others, leave it on the Matrix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilselachian Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 In the matrix! Great find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBOB Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 Matrix! Matrix! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrowHead Posted March 30, 2017 Author Share Posted March 30, 2017 The unanimous winner is to keep it in the matrix. I'll work the matrix carefully to see if any other interesting fossils can be exposed and then I'll post pics of the final display piece. Thanks all for the encouragement! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Sharks Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 That is an exceptional tooth, congrats on the great find. I'd also be inclined to leave it in the matrix. You can always remove it later if you decide to, but it's kinda hard to add it back. 2 There's no limit to what you can accomplish when you're supposed to be doing something else Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Arrowhead, You're right. That tooth is a once in a lifetime kind of find. It would be remarkable enough if it were an upper tooth - so few that size - but to find a lower that large means the largest upper (1st anterior) from the same individual might have been close to 3 1/2 inches (maybe more like 3 3/8" which is gigantic enough) putting in that zone of the largest hastalis ever found. That tooth has to be one of the two largest hastalis lowers I've ever seen or heard of. Bob Ernst had something in that range and a larger upper. Jess 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 As for whether it should stay in matrix, normally, I would instantly agree with leaving it in matrix but an exceptional find like that might deserve to be displayed among your other loose, large hastalis (2 1/2 to 3 inchers) to show the range between the hard-to-find and the incredibly rare. The largest hastalis I've ever found are two uppers and a lower at 2 5/8 inches. I bought a fewf larger teeth when I had the chance. Jess 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrowHead Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Hey Siteseer - thanks for the perspective on the size. I'll show this tooth to Rob Ernst and ask if he still has his Dad's large hastalis for comparison. It would be neat to see them all together. My largest upper to date is 2.9" so I still have some digging to do to find the mate to this lower. I've been working on the matrix and have exposed some bone, fish verts and a small Carcharhinus tooth. It does add some character to the piece but I too would really like to remove the tooth. Here's a photo of where I am with the piece so have a look and see if it sways you on the in or out of the matrix dilemma. Sorry for the bad lighting in this photo - just took a quick one in the lab under fluorescents. Rusty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCW3D Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 That is absolutely beautiful! Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrowHead Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Thanks Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Considering the matrix has other fossils to compliment the main attraction, I say please leave it where it is. I know that the urge to remove it is tempting. I think you will regret it later. Absolutely beautiful as is. @ArrowHead 1 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArrowHead Posted May 17, 2017 Author Share Posted May 17, 2017 This past weekend I found a second large hastalis lower at Slow Curve, located about 18 inches deeper in the wall from where the first was unearthed. This tooth is 3 3/16". I assume it is from the same individual considering the rarity of size and proximity of the finds. I can only hope I have found this indivdual's final resting place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Awesome find! Maybe you will find more. I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boneheadz Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Monsters! Absolute Monsters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilselachian Posted May 17, 2017 Share Posted May 17, 2017 Leave as is. Nice display piece. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted May 18, 2017 Share Posted May 18, 2017 Nice find! 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...
jcbshark Posted May 22, 2017 Share Posted May 22, 2017 Those are some awesome Makos, congrats Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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