Jump to content

Troodon

Recommended Posts

Anytime you can go collecting fossils its a good time and I would like to share my spring trip to South Dakota and Montana.  

 

My South Dakota site is in the upper Hell Creek Formation and full of the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus annectens.  I've been collecting this site for over 20 years and its still delivering.    We are on the edge of a bluff and the fossil layer can be between 2 to 4 feet.   Lots of good bones are to be found but we also have lots of punky or junk bones and about 70 % is collectible.   The site is quite large and like I said last year we have no idea of its size but it contains scores of hadrosaurs, all disarticulated.   No skulls are found but all the elements that make up a skull can be found.  I like collecting in the section where smaller bones, unguals-toe-carpal-verts, are more typical while others like to go after larger limb bones.   

 

 

My trip to these areas takes me through the Chile Capital of the World, Hatch, New Mexico.  Greeting me is Mr Rex a good start to my trip.  I hear he is harmless...:D  all show no action

 

5b1ed0c630413_1-Hatch.jpg.2377b9bd2c2a0089ada8cd59f93c6a8a.jpg

 

 

Some pictures of the South Dakota site 

The collecting zone is between the white lines a layer of 2 to 4 feet.

 

A.thumb.jpg.459035919b07c01e68c808c5ea68a958.jpgAAA.jpg.dc41bc23415650db17d0b1b0b81a2558.jpgBB.jpg.99e107a2415ad091bf58d8516cb3a1c5.jpgIMG_8023.JPG.a816ca677af4388cd0f2239a9fc8c35e.JPGIMG_8133a.jpg.edbc934dc4cd11d68aa4d5471dfb7c01.jpg

 

 

The layer is shown below.  The top is very crumbly and full of concretions.  

IMG_8068a.jpg.d818673c743e0d4f554e08f20d720d6b.jpg

 

 

My Collecting gear consists of a tool box with everything I need to collect

 

IMG_7976.JPG.5236aa2cbbcefa2ad75322c4421c833e.JPG

 

 

My glue field consolidant, orange bottle,  without strength but is easy to prep and my structural glue, red.  Activator to accelerate curing which rarely used. 

IMG_7972.JPG.b3ab85750f5fb7310cdc2482220f054a.JPG

 

Tips for the glue

IMG_7973.JPG.e1e9747a5cc7beaa4b7e1e391efd2146.JPG

 

 

Basic Tools I like to use

IMG_7975.JPG.43ce1d4b401f4b309eabcc3094f393e7.JPG

 

 

No its not a beach day but temperatures approaching 90 degrees (32C) can get pretty hot so some protection is needed

 

IMG_8163a.jpg.7274cd41711d74e1307b6f68bcbffef1.jpg

AAAA.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Note: I'm not one that spends time cleaning bones in the field that will be done later...

 

Toe Bones are prized and one pops up top left within minutes of my dig.   Takes about 30 minutes to work this bone out.

 

IMG_7992A.jpg.db068439a78fc00af78c51a9480314d8.jpg

IMG_7994A.jpg.bf8edd507f885a6f8110a20cbfee54fe.jpgIMG_7996a.jpg.4e143ccd5d11365ac0204dbd29708306.jpg

 

Bones like to stick to the matrix so I like to use my knife to pry it up 

IMG_7997a.jpg.99f367456c003485f6875fafdd50147c.jpg

 

Aluminum foil is all that is necessary to transport it home 

IMG_7999a.jpg.609b1f235c7399c87df5208db10e604d.jpg

 

 

I typically do not collect tendons but this was a nice big one

IMG_8003a.jpg.a1b022d974c1168518f101095c0c3216.jpg

 

 

Lots of caudal vertebrae found on this trip.  Here is one missing the small processesIMG_8008a.jpg.8fbda14d4ed34530a12ecc397f0d37ed.jpg 

IMG_8007a.jpg.6f2ccf416b615156871d049e3f42cf0e.jpg

 

Interesting pathology, it has a groove in it and does not appear to be a bit mark.

IMG_8011a.jpg.12726f99a62495ee8fb63cd5173d21c6.jpg

 

Again foil is all that is needed.

IMG_8014a.jpg.dab39cb9e92892c57be2ad1fc6652909.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One afternoon we had a very dangerous storm.  Big hail, 70mph winds,  tornado warnings, one hit the city of Gillette, Wyoming.  One of our vehicles sustained minor hail damage.  We all were able to leave the prairie without problem.

IMG_8019A.jpg.469de32235ec1328874f3702eba8b6aa.jpg

 

 

 

A large carpal, hand bone .  We call this the triangle carpal.   One of the nicer ones I've seen, preservation outstanding.  Extraction was easy less that 15 minutes

 

IMG_8020A.jpg.1e8041e4e77b3b676876edf2e2d2ce35.jpgIMG_8021A.jpg.c616dd46639465ed83fc391986273c9b.jpgIMG_8022A.jpg.994a0f3ba74800ff03ab447a1798a547.jpg

 

 

 

About two feet down ran into this, its alive :o  Moss? Plant, Fungus?  About 2 inches across, very cool

IMG_8135a.jpg.2d8454bececf6793283e70823c091712.jpg

 

 

From a fellow digger

1) Rib

2) Humerus

3) Femur  42"

IMG_8080a.jpg.bc39e77db660c4d31af650cbebbe0e38.jpg

 

Couple of ribs - casted and ready to transport

IMG_8178a.jpg.d8e75e292ef2e978697b76a020cd7254.jpg

 

 

A hand ungual

IMG_8222a.jpg.c67dfd96e26c19d1bdc426ec0488e3c4.jpg

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bones are typically found in pockets so you may did for a while and find nothing and then a Toe Bone, Foot Ungual and Tooth.  A very good day

 

Toe Bone on top and on its side below a foot ungual.  

 

IMG_8047a.jpg.affd2b90bb6420fa4cb82d31b249133e.jpg

 

IMG_8046a.jpg.23f231777336da74367164e1eae2b267.jpg

 

Nice big toe bone

IMG_8049a.jpg.ac8c312ec3378540c2dc1a40db667a8d.jpg

 

Ungual

 

IMG_8050a.jpg.782821ed910b7ee1634d4c787f3d5455.jpg

 

Medium size Ungual

IMG_8051a.jpg.7ef701979195d3965227857f0a253afc.jpg

 

While clearing the matrix from the ungual a surprise an Acheroraptor tooth.

Nice Trio  

IMG_8052a.jpg.ec9375a56745d32bc45d4a36dd756dbc.jpg

 

A small Caudal Centrum from a Juvie.

 

IMG_8117a.jpg.dc13fdaa63f4d71b929fa46025d31b77.jpgIMG_8119.JPG.89d97c8671966199d6ff27cdf6b8130a.JPG

IMG_8118a.jpg.8c4e82fd2c8bc65d5946ef617ac04ac2.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Juvie Toe bone

 

Initial discovery 

IMG_8127a.jpg.36526871bdd656177d086e8d95c22bb8.jpg

 

Came out within seconds

IMG_8129a.jpg.86229d81a80395c85e7421944534325f.jpg

 

IMG_8130a.jpg.b00add5f7652032edce89a67c96a292d.jpg

 

 

A skull element was next fount its an exoccipital located in the back of the skull. 

 

Illustration from a different different type of hadrosaur.

Exopp.thumb.jpg.58f91b78f9b4046ddc880c0fbe96bfd3.jpg

 

Element in green

 

Hadro.thumb.jpg.60241cc12918bb2af2fd7393309dbafc.jpg

 

Initial discovery, no clue what I had

IMG_8098a.jpg.fdd119a7ed7ed860931bab78eed0cee0.jpg

 

IMG_8100a.jpg.e47d895e34b33fdb9823ae2d5da13dbc.jpgIMG_8101a.jpg.8f1542349a325784378e7381acb992a9.jpg

 

Its in great condition and off to my prep person 

IMG_8106a.jpg.f47da861d30c743efe90d9bff5b19e42.jpg

 

 

Another skull element a Quadrate, shown in red in the above illustration.  Not my find.

 

IMG_8205a.jpg.8df039283d4e59967c3e8f71e08d5af3.jpg\\

 

 

Another skull element

 

IMG_8086.JPG.51e49860e0f959382ea47eaf0e0727b9.JPGIMG_8087a.jpg.ea9581fe559f133b0d711a92ee25bf26.jpg

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Juvenile Tibia, not well preserved specimen but nice.

 

Initial Discovery

 

IMG_8108.JPG.a64034b0d767bab6eb0798527f3a8f80.JPG

 

IMG_8107a.jpg.ea29c0097efc0050e2101ad5d73d8aba.jpg

IMG_8113a.jpg.05134fd7c77322a96051da0c7de83e9c.jpgIMG_8110a.jpg.74d5839d890207721ec2cf85b2a44cd8.jpg

 

IMG_8112a.jpg.c563ec8f6ee624165c05ff198d253001.jpg

 

No pictures but followed by wrapping in aluminum foil and then plaster jacket.

IMG_8116a.jpg.de721ce633489a20c77364e8f50e1439.jpg

 

 

A vertebra

Initial Discovery

 

IMG_8053a.jpg.682972d295f3c2deca7379e848335768.jpg

IMG_8058a.jpg.651618a1afa9dddee9d90655129463fe.jpg

IMG_8056a.jpg.8f480aedeb9413be95446f2150535b0f.jpg

IMG_8063a.jpg.5d422cb88fd78c60c878e2b62394b881.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Vertebra from the upper junk layer.  Not preserved very well

 

IMG_8141a.jpg.ed8cc3519ee1dea52094206fec75b3df.jpg

 

Decided to remove it intact with matrix

 IMG_8145a.jpg.b0bd7e33d73c87b36e843d6548cd7340.jpgIMG_8147a.jpg.cf1b3ebb3e7076b62561642c514f3911.jpg

 

 

Centrum

IMG_8143a.jpg.17ad098b9851d4b384a779bbbd76b639.jpg

 

 

Vertebra

Initial Discovery

IMG_8148a.jpg.19976c6e8b2c7626105114af7755bd87.jpg

 

IMG_8149a.jpg.1af3c7698bbdde9b0c442d38dd5e17fe.jpgIMG_8150a.jpg.9d4fa48975bfbf61b0732002e9f37f4e.jpg

 

Rooted Hadro tooth

IMG_8154a.jpg.9ceb850420a5df2931b480524e6fa9b9.jpgIMG_8156a.jpg.ff823dc39a43ac1d0dda8f3c2e206952.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Local Flowers

 

IMG_8131a.jpg.d4ebcb88a49de770a8c41cec6f1389e7.jpg

IMG_8136a.jpg.73f7ee545ac51ac11adbc35f99d70195.jpg

 

Long Bone not identified yet.   

Initial discovery

IMG_8152a.jpg.320959edbd2f441f4af9338fdd8cc094.jpg

 

IMG_8153a.jpg.10ff6e580fa7722f1af3074252405854.jpgIMG_8157a.jpg.809e9502d81a743b1d53008d5dd68266.jpg

 

IMG_8158a.jpg.d9aa48e78fde00d60925278eb99f7073.jpg

 

Plaster wrap does the trick on this small bone

IMG_8159a.jpg.b56c976c000a629aeff8d421f233fb13.jpg

 

IMG_8160a.jpg.414be50f70a243f21ad5547278647c42.jpg

 

When flipped

IMG_8161a.jpg.7dfc3d3a04bb9b65edfffff8bfc2b10e.jpg

 

 

Large Centrum, Initial discovery

IMG_8165a.jpg.67f113af87b7fb44697c9930668b7646.jpg

 

IMG_8169a.jpg.c605e5f648deb843ac1f9cf79f704470.jpgIMG_8170a.jpg.223cf068bf88aaab48a7b7b43ec55daa.jpg

 

Nanotyrannus Tooth - found when extracting the centrum

IMG_8172a.jpg.0a0705824df47c249d2747f426d5b273.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Humerus - not mine

IMG_8138a.jpg.c0ff0049a8a2194aa20fa122ff32265c.jpg

 

Jacketed with a burlap reinforcement

IMG_8175a.jpg.195c2e8be870b9ff06eebd58bd5e95a4.jpg

 

Hadrosaur Rooted Tooth

Just the tip was exposed.  Not sure if it had a root at this point.  Caution taken just in case

IMG_8189a.jpg.64a545ced8aef855550abe50a0bef015.jpg

 

Part of the root visible.

IMG_8190a.jpg.f566bbf75240d7f1e09909c9764e1c0a.jpg

 

Nice size root - full of matrix and glue

IMG_8192a.jpg.d3ef1a3c822e85238e431c159013eb22.jpg

 

Found a couple of Juvie Chevrons here is an Adult one

 

IMG_8213a.jpg.0d4b132412152f1fcc39b6947d105173.jpg

 

IMG_8214a.jpg.9accbc4dea68fbacf365ef342f642e8b.jpgIMG_8216a.jpg.ce7b8dd5b951eb019a0501da27290b2e.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Spent a few days in Montana at a Channel Deposit.   Mostly found Teeth and a Thescelosaurus vertebra

 

You can tell you are in Montana

20170707_173626.thumb.jpg.9badc491818f5689ddd60764e39b44a5.jpg

 

 

Sites are pretty remote

IMG_7967.JPG.ad04b8bb53548999c777b7a047b5e74e.JPG

 

Backhoe helps with overburden removal

IMG_7988a.jpg.96f66c701dea1026c682fdfc3975c0f3.jpg

 

 

Black line overburden - 5 to 10 feet.  Red lines the Hell Creek Layer 3 feet

IMG_7981a.jpg.0c0facfa69ac2551e7b1567ff1ae22cb.jpg

IMG_7982a.jpg.8a0d209e3d2d0158c618a8031d7445f4.jpg\\\

 

 

Typical Theropod tooth discovery

 

IMG_7978a.jpg.6cd935c80613e14d2de1e560d4ec7284.jpg

 

A number of items went to a prep person in SD that I could not manage.  Will Post those when I get them back.  

 

Edmontosaurs Carpals

IMG_8285.JPG.1e407d5237f65c3ebbf614cffe5c287d.JPG

 

IMG_8283.JPG.d1fed366ef96bba5d6020c4f21de3cda.JPG

 

Crocodile Material

IMG_8286.JPG.3ce4f6dbb78e904b21019f7a9dba5bca.JPG

 

Hadrosaur Teeth

IMG_8287.JPG.0ca981a3c28a758e2586efda5f493366.JPG

 

Theropod Teeth - all need to be prepped and will post at a later date including a couple of small rex teeth not in the photo

IMG_8289.JPG.5eb28a93e82c4a0ff97934740c426e42.JPG

 

Did find these to tiny teeth that I was able to clean up.

Acheroraptor

Acheroraptor4b.thumb.jpg.796aaf67d288313d87d402b7aa2ae5d7.jpg

 

Richardoestesia sp.

Para.thumb.jpg.af090f99011e7a766f13d997ecf2a490.jpg

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Love the toe bones and unguals.  Harder to come by IMO. I'd be biased towards those, too.  Great, informative post.  Love the typical digging knife.  Among other things good for shaving roots (rather than pulling :o which the inexperienced digger would soon regret! ).

 

Thanks for posting pics from paradise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Bone guy said:

What are you building? :D 

 

A skeleton,  all finished :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Wow, great trip! The theropod teeth are my favorite. That Acheroraptor tooth is exquisite :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awesome Frank. That is a dream trip of a lifetime for many of us!

Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great bones!  Any theories on what caused the complete dis-articulation of even the skulls? Flooding perhaps?

"Journey through a universe ablaze with changes" Phil Ochs

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It looks similar to the terrain of a dig site in the Lance Formation in Wyoming I’ve been to a couple times. Only the one I go to has hoodoos all over the place. I think the layers were thicker in the Lance where we dig too.

The dig I’ve been to is in June.

 

I get the crazy weather. Once when out on the dig we had a severe storm with straight line winds. Many of those there for the dig were camping in tents because it is so remote. The temp had been in the 80s during the day, but suddenly dropped to below freezing that night with wind, rain and sleet. The winds were so bad it mangled a few tents rendering them unusable. 

Often strong winds blow through the day sand blasting you while you dig. They put up little lento We all had to wear goggles to protect our eyes from the sand.

 

The fossils look pretty similar to the Lance too, but there are a lot more large bones. Some take days to remove. I don’t think the teeth were very common on the particular 2 sites I dug in, but in other sites they were. They also found a number of sculls. 

 

It looks like an amazing trip with great finds.

 

So what happens to the fossils that you dig up? 

 

All those dug up in situ on the dig I attend go to a university museum. Whatever you find not in situ you can take 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That’s a lot of Dino! Just bone after bone after bone! Awesome job and thanks for taking us with you! I believe the wierd growth is a lichen if some sort. Many millions of species and they are a composite organism in and of themselves so it’s probably not gonna get beyond that.

“...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin

Happy hunting,

Mason

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In general the Lance has a lot more rather thick yellowish sandstones than the Hell Creek, which has more gray and dark gray mudstone beds.  And yes, hoodoos are very typical in the Lance; made of those very same yellow sandstones.   Which University Museum have you been digging with?  Not mine, unless that is not your photo inyour avatar.    

 

we are pretty proud of our wind here in Wyoming.   If you come back for another dig, stop by the Tate Museum in Casper... I  (or one of my vols) can show you some cool stuff.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...