Jump to content

Fossil hunting in the Ardennes


gigantoraptor

Recommended Posts

Hello All

 

Today and the next five days I'm on a family trip in the Ardennes. I am close to the region around Hotton. This is known for the many invertebrate fossils that can be found here. 

I went to a quarry first. I had to get permission from the owners but they gave if I didn't break the obvious rules of fossilhunting in an active quarry. 

The weather was very nice and the fossils numerous. What else does a fossilhunter want?

56514056_386248422218706_6563444227177447424_n.thumb.jpg.328ac637f74d7db30fd5b4439781bd78.jpg

I searched in an the loose rocks and didn't even had to use my hammer. 

 

The ground here is littered with fossil corals. In 5 minutes I found about 20 pieces. 

56262447_865169367148487_7375921378085568512_n.thumb.jpg.63ad9a48e1589d8c029f9f569a6ef43a.jpg

 

56270033_2146437605393482_8374523810098970624_n.thumb.jpg.96b95e3e548cc37cf9b949381b069dfb.jpg

56306658_358118421479923_55076066443657216_n.thumb.jpg.7e87e2486749afe9177ac15669daa449.jpg

 

I have no Idea of the species yet.

  • I found this Informative 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The first find of the day. I didn't take this piece because it was not the nicest I found.56215536_647941872308962_912821013010448384_n.thumb.jpg.70753e9759b60255015e32c30306c1a7.jpg

 

The ground is also littered with these small but nicely preserved pieces of coral. Here is a shot of one that's just 0,5 cm in size.56603203_435983647209836_8168668475733049344_n.thumb.jpg.68fd219d1aa4f10c8dc82d07b0ab1416.jpg

 

One of the bigger pieces.

56632039_639393923177258_5008961516825739264_n.thumb.jpg.3c5ab22702b1f3d0c714cc98869e3ea9.jpg

 

 

One of the biggest pieces I saw. I have pretty big shoes and this is only half of the total lenght of the coral.

56718556_561673767660864_4088548809817194496_n.thumb.jpg.e7dfb7652c41407807b739575fb7d087.jpg

  • I found this Informative 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next some of the pieces I brought home

 

A beautifel coral from a yet unknown species. Any coral experts on here?

56645017_400020714118106_6884184718326104064_n.thumb.jpg.f11fc8ff87f810b199f41d008d2219ca.jpg

 

The only decent brachiopod I found here. Apparently I have to go deeper in the quarry to find the nice brachs. Something for one of the next days.

56640141_325576574815997_7719976480725270528_n.thumb.jpg.d6c07cd476ec479d903fe890e6f956a4.jpg

 

Next is what I think a vertical cut of a gastropod?

56664562_2049115448722226_8592837079359029248_n.thumb.jpg.87177377d578ff0d045359baecc2ebc0.jpg

 

A round coral.

56737163_1031118190407295_4415048431202992128_n.thumb.jpg.30e27d3d6ad7a690a927c643a68c70ea.jpg

 

A very flat piece of coral. Only 1 cm thick.

57085305_1219624951517878_6812297728979107840_n.thumb.jpg.6e86758d92be213725b2fc74fdd1c0f5.jpg

 

I found many many more corals but didn't photograph the smallest ones. There are some many corals at the place I could build a house out of them.

Hope you like the pictures and more following tomorrow.

 

 

  • I found this Informative 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice report and finds! Looking forward to seeing more.:popcorn:

Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

nice picturesThijs, glad you found some nice fossils.

I'll see if I have some papers on this quarry for identifications.

 

growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went back today. I went deeper in the quarry to the place that was recommended. There was a small weathering surface there. The ground is full of brachiopods (Atrypa) and different kinds of coral. I was so enthousiast I forgot to take pictures so I only have a few.

Again the weather was nice during the morning, but at 2 pm, suddenly the rain showed up and ruined my fun. I had to call my dad and wait for 15 minutes in the rain while waiting. Anyway, I had fun and fossils so a good day again.

Groundshot, spot the fossils...

56420977_785744095133446_6623441140731346944_n.thumb.jpg.08e5596d41bb314d2f16f849c1e0a154.jpg

 

From the smallest pieces to the biggest. Some of the biggest corals I saw today.

56372154_263112571310234_2608801974979657728_n.thumb.jpg.15a41439f1434c44cbae2ecc317e3b84.jpg56423415_2317432168533973_860730850780643328_n.thumb.jpg.46aea28c01d01ca0f0728cadbac40c99.jpg

 

 

  • I found this Informative 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

My finds of today

 

Atrypa's. I found more, but these are some of the best.

56551806_561958157544836_6002146126768111616_n.thumb.jpg.265ee3d7455eacf16fe85a4bb5c1e11c.jpg

 

Multiblock with about 8 Atrypa's

56461022_2370851366269784_2509188386166669312_n.thumb.jpg.7b4887365db3151652a07badaf7804d1.jpg

 

 

Very cool piece of coral.

56476810_434093227347034_587461791341084672_n.thumb.jpg.5622b7529620792580edcbede2ef63de.jpg

 

Cool mineral

56537523_275775126693050_6108165947065892864_n.thumb.jpg.9353a3b4f36c1383ef4ece4949aceded.jpg

 

  • I found this Informative 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

And last, two big pieces of coral. 

56656170_285649042329336_5475694839787945984_n.thumb.jpg.be65f44f7e01644437bd4996e5244e59.jpg

56569061_327090344832118_8851729908301299712_n.thumb.jpg.05b2e6a7df685e3b9dda7955e3981a70.jpg

 

I found way more than I could carry, so I only took some of the nicest pieces. Very curious what I might find the next days.

More following.

  • I found this Informative 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, Darktooth said:

Nice report and finds! Looking forward to seeing more.:popcorn:

I hope I'll meet up to your expectations.

 

7 hours ago, Manticocerasman said:

nice picturesThijs, glad you found some nice fossils.

I'll see if I have some papers on this quarry for identifications.

 

Thanks Kevin. You're advise has been essential for this trip so far.

 

4 hours ago, Fitch1979 said:

Good on you thijs! That will make the collection grow :)

Thanks Dries, I will definitly more space:)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, gigantoraptor said:

Cool mineral

Exactly my reaction to any mineral I find haha

 

Those are some good finds! I like the brach's best, especially the middle Atrypa. I hope someone (hopefully Kevin) can find a paper for you to ID all those different corals. 

Hopefully you'll find cool stuff tomorrow (or any following day) too! The rain today might not have been very nice, but it should wash out some new material which I guess is good :) 

Max Derème

 

"I feel an echo of the lightning each time I find a fossil. [...] That is why I am a hunter: to feel that bolt of lightning every day."

   - Mary Anning >< Remarkable Creatures, Tracy Chevalier

 

Instagram: @world_of_fossils

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@gigantoraptor

 

Thijs, can you send me your e-mail in pm or in messenger? I got a bunch of papers for you :D

I'll send them with wetransfer.

 

The atripids have been studied by J. Godefroid and B.Mottequin in 2005

those specimen ar Spinatrypina fontis n. sp. 

 

 

  • I found this Informative 4

growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yesterday I didn't go the quarry I went to the first two days. I figured I might give the famous location of Barvaux a shot. The weather wasn't nice, the whole day was rainy. The rain made the location very muddy so I wasn't the cleanest when I came back home. My family wouldn't let me into the living room and the dog started barking because he didn't recognize me under all the mud. I was covered in dirt because I slipped of the slope.

 

Anyway, here is the location. The layers lie on top of the slope and all other parts are loose pieces of stone and dirt. If you ever visit this location pay attention to the very busy and very dangerous street right next to it. Make sure you are easily visible.

 5cac4ce61daeb_56819013_2349837731721329_8000888833900019712_n(1).jpg.b28864ca11f6abf7c190ca14a6be4f72.jpg

 

I started with searching the loose rocks at the bottom of the slope, but found mainly partials and only one bigger piece. After that, I climbed the slope to search directly in the layer. There is at least one fossil visible on the picture.

56951158_2299285177006766_9027040182582378496_n.thumb.jpg.1b160b82f4c39a30b316db02581ee0d2.jpg

 

I only found two kinds of fossils. The most abundant were the various species of Cyrtospirifer. There occur multiple species here but I don't know yet how to distinguish them

I did not found a single complete one and never heard of a 100% complete one so I took the pieces that are complete enough for me.

 

Most of them are this complete

56649222_349184052385647_277801873434476544_n.thumb.jpg.11760ec694206eb5f3058cd397fdb6f1.jpg

 

The biggest and most complete of the day. My dad found this one at the start of the afternoon.

57066169_424944721642815_3160727932763111424_n.thumb.jpg.4d77e4d9ae5a81cfcccdecc173ca7f0d.jpg

 

This is the only Cyrtospirifer I found with shell preserved.

56759183_2259191394123713_6958957453249609728_n.thumb.jpg.e63228572977a6c358a7d611d0d2d698.jpg

 

The only other species I found is Spinatrypa occidentalis , I found only three of them but I like them a lot.

56614154_2295064117428010_7311495279507668992_n.thumb.jpg.71c8295fd75a11cd435e4af10cc7cc35.jpg

 

So now I'm halfway through the week I spend here. Hope to make the last days count.

More following

 

56866378_1553158611485556_8449047746156953600_n.jpg

  • I found this Informative 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello good finds and report ,best regards

J collecting only fossils since 30 years old,ammonites,heteromorphe ammonite,crabs,fish trilobit, sea urshins, mammals, etc...J am married . Sorry for my enghish

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 7/4/2019 at 8:25 PM, Max-fossils said:

Exactly my reaction to any mineral I find haha

 

Those are some good finds! I like the brach's best, especially the middle Atrypa. I hope someone (hopefully Kevin) can find a paper for you to ID all those different corals. 

Hopefully you'll find cool stuff tomorrow (or any following day) too! The rain today might not have been very nice, but it should wash out some new material which I guess is good :) 

Thanks, if that would happen would be very handy, but I don't think this will happen that fast.

 

On 8/4/2019 at 9:28 AM, PaulK said:

Very nice finds.

Thank you

On 8/4/2019 at 1:48 AM, Monica said:

Is the last picture a colonial rugose coral?  Very nice! :dinothumb:

Not An expert on Corals, but certainly looks like one.

On 8/4/2019 at 2:29 AM, Nimravis said:

Great trip report and I really love your finds- pieces of coral are always pretty.

Yeah, I agree, much prettier than I expected.

 

1 hour ago, herve said:

Hello good finds and report ,best regards

Thank you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for keeping us up to date on your activities. You're obviously having a great and successful time. Maybe @TqB can help you with the corals, although he's more of a Carboniferous man.

 

Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger

http://www.steinkern.de/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yesterday (day 4) was the worst day so far in terms of fossilhunting. I went to Barvaux, didn't find a single decent Spirifer or any other fossil. Too bad, but those things happen.

 

Today on the contrary, was the best day so far. I found a new spot, and by the looks of it, I was the first one who searched there in a very long time. The ground was covered with Spirifers. I found about 30 I think, with 3 complete ones. It was sunny, so it was great weather to search for fossils.

 

56644867_1851959111576677_414684018756288512_n.thumb.jpg.83a8c5b237e53c14c004d3d0522219a4.jpg56582198_1033344706867500_8964427560930770944_n.thumb.jpg.1fe7b706b4a0d59c641b3cd38b13dad4.jpg

 

The fauna and flora of this area is awesome. I saw a hare, a snake, multiple birds of prey and this little cutie who came over to say hello.57174902_562705484240613_6955708396389531648_n.thumb.jpg.3e82d35ab0282a8c8ee6b8be4f79eea9.jpg

 

  • I found this Informative 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some of the fossils I found at this place.

 

One of my favourites: An incomplete but crystalized Spirifer.

56569057_344364412870347_7316082403364044800_n.thumb.jpg.aa7a9a1e195a491d45b4b14c5918e1ae.jpg

 

In situ:

56751326_584614078707809_8779710079910805504_n.thumb.jpg.f3f705b8d1bb5a241891347624f0fe2f.jpg57034742_269875170630892_7159733138384486400_n.thumb.jpg.0736ab2518f400a8db95e3ca98825e08.jpg

 

 

One of the more recent finds (I didn't touch it or found other bones in the area.

56993971_2109256872504652_6241965224992178176_n.thumb.jpg.73e8b958d7b9b15db62c204e9a046fe1.jpg

  • I found this Informative 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

New biggest and most complete Spirifer of the week:

57024151_1293583974125174_7249359072808402944_n.thumb.jpg.200b1d50f16f9acbf40a2fcc8e28383a.jpg

 

Complete one, but clearly a different species.

56561428_306458370029796_5113252793175506944_n.thumb.jpg.fce7a980372d00e28f7af0c92219a3d6.jpg56726544_318146925516154_1968001547430264832_n.thumb.jpg.e2b1427b4a50fa70ce6c0dedb13c5f6e.jpg

 

Horn coral with a brachiopod attached: Only coral I found here.

56806653_2363105490586833_416473164692848640_n.thumb.jpg.5c48c3edf6f6102b57f792c5d19c5505.jpg57092806_632769063816197_4255505248153501696_n.thumb.jpg.c47e76c16b1143ececb64f5e4ee74db9.jpg

 

Last decent find: Unknown? but very nice.

56757542_2345216115714009_8869890717950935040_n.thumb.jpg.b6d75fbae077060fe5a9db0a845054e2.jpg

 

Tomorrow is my last day. I will probably return to the same spot as today.

  • I found this Informative 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/7/2019 at 12:55 PM, gigantoraptor said:

56476810_434093227347034_587461791341084672_n.thumb.jpg.5622b7529620792580edcbede2ef63de.jpg

Looks like a bunny rabbit! :P

 

 

Really nice stuff! What's the age/formation?

Every single fossil you see is a miracle set in stone, and should be treated as such.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...