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Mahantango fossil hunting locations


Misha

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Hello to everyone, I was trying to put together a plan for a spring or summer trip hunting fossils. I am particularly interested in the animals of mahantango formation and would like to know if anyone is familiar with some public locations that allow people to hunt for the fossils from that formation, or at least do not prohibit this.

If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you.

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Deer Lake PA has/had an area behind the Deer Lake Pub and Restaurant across from the lake where you could fossil hunt if you asked permission in the restaurant.

@Shamalama  @Jeffrey P

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    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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THIS  and THIS might point you to a few more locations. Keep in mind the information is old, and no longer accurate. ;) 

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Montour Fossil Pit

 

There is also this site.  It's on a nature preserve that the power company in the area set up.  It has a little museum with with a small fossil area highlighting what is in the area a few miles from the pit.  

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26 minutes ago, Adam86cucv said:

Montour Fossil Pit

 

There is also this site.  It's on a nature preserve that the power company in the area set up.  It has a little museum with with a small fossil area highlighting what is in the area a few miles from the pit.  

 

31 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

THIS  and THIS might point you to a few more locations. Keep in mind the information is old, and no longer accurate. ;) 

Both of these are a lot closer than I expected, maybe I won't wait until spring.

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Well if you want a longer trip there is the road cut outside of Wardensville WV on old route 55.  It's fairly documented on the internet.  I have never been but plan to make a trip out there this year hopefully.

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The cut behind "Kaydee Drive In" restaurant on 61 in Deer Lake was good back in the day. The Deer Lake site itself is in Fossil collecting in Pennsylvania book. None of these may be productive today but if you're in the area...

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I haven't been to Seven Stars but it has been a regular stop for the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society and other TFF members- typical Mahantango fossils. I've been to site near Turbotsville with the New York Paleontological Society, privately owned but the owner apparently doesn't mind fossil collecting- a wide variety of fossils- trilobites, nautiloids, brachiopods, corals, crinoids, gastropods, etc. The preservation isn't wonderful, but the abundance and variety is very impressive. PM me for more specific directions.

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2 hours ago, Plax said:

The cut behind "Kaydee Drive In" restaurant on 61 

Exactly. That is now the Deer Lake Pub and Restaurant. ;) 

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    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

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__________________________________________________
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~   ><))))( *>  About Me      

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There are many small exposures all along the Catskill front. Look up Halihan's Hill. I used to hunt all kinds of small exposures along US 209 between Kingston and Port Jervis.  Most were small cuts but all together I put together a pretty decent "Mahantango" collection.  

 

BUT, it has been 12-15 years since I last collected any of the sites.

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It's bee closer to 30 years since I collected the Mahantango! Although I may make my way back up there if the Kaydee Drive in is now a pub! That cut has the most 3-D stretched brachs I've ever seen.

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There are a few sites in Jasper Burns' book.  I stopped at at least one of them once and found stuff, including a small starfish. 

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