Pennsylvanian Flora

[minnbuckeye]

It was about a month ago that I attended a wedding in Ohio. There was a free afternoon for me to do a little exploring. So I  took a short one hour road trip to Ambridge, Pa. I had no tools to use other than a carpenter's hammer that I borrowed. Had I been prepared to split shale with the proper equipment, my results would have been much better. Pennsylvanian, Dutch Creek Formation flora exists in the shale cliffs across the Ohio River from Ambridge, along Route 51( a 4 lane highway) as you cross the bridge. It is a very safe area to collect since barriers are in place to prevent rock slides onto the road. This keeps you separated from the heavy traffic on the road. Here are typical fossils found at this site.


 

[minnbuckeye]

 

 

 Calamites leaf and a Spenopteris leaf:

 

 

[minnbuckeye]

[minnbuckeye]

[minnbuckeye]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Macroneuropteris leaves:

 

  

 

This would be a great site for anyone just getting into fossil collecting. Also fairly child friendly, but you never know about falling rocks. the barriers are there for a reason. My collecting entailed walking along the base of the cliff, looking for recently fallen rocks, then just bang on the rock until it splits. Almost all of the shale splits easily and 25% seems to be fossiliferous. It was a fun couple of hours!!!

[Innocentx]

So much good quality Carboniferous material you found in one lucky hour! Congratulations on your short productive trip.

[Fossildude19]

These are exceptionally well preserved, Mike!   

Lovely fossils. 

Thanks for showing us!  

[Nimravis]

Love the Calamites with internodes.

 

 

[Herb]

very nice specimens

[FossilDAWG]

Wow! Excellent fossils!

 

Don

[KimTexan]

Yes very nice. Love the detail preservation with depth and dimension to it. Sounds like a fun place, but possibly somewhat dangerous.

[DeepTimeIsotopes]

That's some impressive splitting with only a carpenter hammer.

[Monica]

Very nice plants, Mike!  I, too, love the Calamites with internodes present - beautiful! 

[minnbuckeye]

My favorites are the Calamites too. I am surprised many also like them over the fern leaves. As for dangerous, yes rock slides happen there. That is what brings the slabs to the base of the hill. It is more likely that most of the rock, as said, slides down the hill. Flat slabs don't tumble well and the slope is not very steep due to an accumulation of broken shale. I would have taken my children here when they were young. It is more likely to die of an automobile crash getting there than be injured by falling rock.Finally, I destroyed many many nicer pieces because of the hammer I used. But just lightly hitting the surface of the shale would cause bedding planes to separate decently enough to extract some nice specimens.

[RJB]

The calamites are cool, but I really like the cute little ferns. 

 

RB

[Bguild]

Awesome finds! Sounds like a very productive site.

[Rockin' Ric]

Awesome Carboniferous Flora finds! Nicely detailed and love those hash plates.

[minnbuckeye]

Forgot these different specimens:  

 

Neuropteris ovata

 

  

  

 Lepidodendron Scale Tree leaves (needles) left the trunk of the tree looking hairy:

 

 

 

[smt126]

I'm planning a trip to DC this year and looks like it might be a nice stop on the way home.

[minnbuckeye]

@smt126   My guess is a trip to Ambridge would NOT take you far out of your way. Let me know if you plan this and I can give you a few pointers!!!! It is an enjoyable place to visit if you like plant material. It doesn't take long to find respectable specimens. So great for a pit stop and stretch of the legs.

Mike

[smt126]

@minnbuckeye will do. It will be some time before we go. I was reading about the beaver rd spot a little as well. We are big fans of cephalopod. I have to figure out what the wife is ok with first. Obviously seeing D.C. is on the top of the agenda but I was hoping to hit up some shark teeth by the Potomac, st Leon rd cut, and whatever in between. I got the rockhounding guide for the D.C. Area. Brownies beach sounds like it would be fun but charging me almost 60 bucks for my family is outrageous to use a beach. I'm probably going to pick up the rockhounding pennsylvania next. I put it in the Amazon cart  with some other fossil literature hoping my wife would get the hint to get it for me for Christmas since she says she never knows what to get me lol.

[Adam86cucv]

2 hours ago, smt126 said:

Brownies beach sounds like it would be fun but charging me almost 60 bucks for my family is outrageous to use a beach.

They only change at Brownies between Memorial day weekend through Labor day weekend.  

[Tidgy's Dad]

Wow! 

Wonderful site to find beautiful plant specimens! 

Thanks for sharing these, Mike.

[smt126]

1 hour ago, Adam86cucv said:

They only change at Brownies between Memorial day weekend through Labor day weekend.  

 

That is when I will be there

[sTamprockcoin]

Don"t bother with the rockhounding PA book (IMHO) look for "Fossil Collecting in the MidAtlantic States" by Jasper Burns which has more localities and better illustrations and is ALL fossils! The other one has too many closed and locations where you can't collect.