Kayak Expeditionary Force Enters Ammonite Country

[Uncle Siphuncle]

My wife had a brilliant and tastefully haute home decor epiphany.  As a result, I have been conscripted to push north in search of ammonites to be inlaid in a stone mailbox post I’ve been tasked to erect.  And I had just such a source in mind, off the public radar and left fallow for a year or 2 of flood cycles.

 

I figured there might be more than one guy needed, so I invited my good friend Barry (Creekcrawler and formerly Snakekeeper here on TFF) to partake in the festivities.  Barry has hosted me on some good hunts, so it was about time I reciprocated in kind.  It was the maiden voyage for his new little yak, but not so for mine, deeply scarred and patched from 20 years of incessant abuse.

 

Enough blather.  Let’s see some Morts.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

The last one has the rostrum.  Broke the whole dang thing field trimming!

[Uncle Siphuncle]

A few more

[Uncle Siphuncle]

But wait, there’s more...

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Other stuff.  I think the heteromorph may be Anisoceras as we were well above the Idiohamites zone.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

We got a few small Macrasters and one Washitaster too.

 

A grinny Barry with one of has fav Morts from the trip.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Some of Barry’s finds.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Some were too big or too much matrix to float out.  Some I broke in the trimming process.  Personal take home pay displayed here.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

Barry and I then hadto head different direction.  He went home, while I entered the Grayson formation.  I lack good pics, but scored 2 Cymatoceras nautiloids, one Stoliczkaia crotaloides ammonite, a small matrix block with at least 4 small Mariella ammonites, and a squashed Craginaster completa echinoid.

 

Now I have a whole day to kill.  I think I’ll go out in search of more. 

 

[Peat Burns]

Wow. I am ! Thanks for sharing

[Miocene_Mason]

You know it’s been a good day when the kayak is piled high with ammos, nice job out there!

[Past Hunter]

1 hour ago, Uncle Siphuncle said:

I have been conscripted to push north in search of ammonites to be inlaid in a stone mailbox post I’ve been tasked to erect.

You will have to post pictures of your project when completed. I will bet it's the Coolest mailbox post in the neighborhood! 

[Fossildude19]

Great report and resulting finds, Dan!

Thanks for posting. 

Now, get out there and get some more!  

[RJB]

Wow!  Looks like a really fun trip.  Always nice to go fossil hunting and come home with a load of fossils. 

 

RB

[Jeffrey P]

Quite the party there, Dan. Must have been a blast. Congratulations on what is truly an impressive haul. Wish I could have been there. Love to see that mailbox project when it's done. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us. 

[garyc]

When you post pics of the final project, makes sure you don't give out your address or you'll have TFF members fossil hunting in your front yard. 

[Darktooth]

Man, I want a creek bed full of ammonites! How do I acquire one?

[Nimravis]

Great finds and post- you must have had a blast collecting those.

[Ludwigia]

Great finds again, Dan. Seen most on facebook already, but it's nice to view them again here.

[Pagurus]

You sure landed some beauties! Thanks for reporting on the successful expedition.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

4 hours ago, garyc said:

When you post pics of the final project, makes sure you don't give out your address or you'll have TFF members fossil hunting in your front yard. 

Beware of the 2 saber tooth cats roaming our yard!

[Uncle Siphuncle]

4 hours ago, Darktooth said:

Man, I want a creek bed full of ammonites! How do I acquire one?

Easy, in theory.  Here’s my recipe. Choose your target formation.  Then scour Google Earth and geo maps to find 5-10 exposures worth scouting.  Then keep stuffing Andrew Jacksons in your gas tank while you drive drive drive on too little sleep.  Then if you are lucky, one will produce.  Repeat 3x and maybe one will have repeat potential.  “That was easy!”

[Uncle Siphuncle]

1 hour ago, Nimravis said:

Great finds and post- you must have had a blast collecting those.

Actually, Lower K ammonites are among the most common and therefore easiest things to find in central and north TX.  Living here, I get my fill of them pretty quick.  I’m really after the oddball finds that the same exposures occasionally spit out.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

1 hour ago, Ludwigia said:

Great finds again, Dan. Seen most on facebook already, but it's nice to view them again here.

I have something coming up for you, my friend.  Keep your eyes peeled.

[ynot]

Nice that You could collect so many pieces for a mailbox.

Next will be a matching wall.