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Gastropods, Bivalves and Teeth From The Tar River


sixgill pete

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Hello everyone. It's been a while since I posted a trip report, but I thought I would share my finds from yesterday. The rivers here in eastern North Carolina have been at un-collectible levels for the most part since last September when Hurricane Florence paid us a visit. Well, looking at the levels on the Tar for the last week or so, I saw a golden opportunity to hit the Tar right as the river dropped to a collectible level. And hopefully be the first one there! I had the day off and a fossil Buddy took a half day off of work.

 

We hit a total of about 15 locations, all Rushmere member of the Pliocene Yorktown Formation. The first couple of spots we stopped at were a disappointment. Much of the upper cliff had slumped off and covered the fossil layers. But then things picked up. Here are the amazing finds!

 

Great whites, I found the smaller of these two. My buddy found the larger. It is exactly 3 inches. Mine is a measly 2 1/4.

 

20190502_175629.thumb.jpg.c487a9c3947d86d9684a441872f15574.jpg

 

Mine both sides after cleaning

 

20190503_124347.thumb.jpg.4f2966d4ad9ea08c05e23391c0eb6c78.jpg  20190503_124338.thumb.jpg.d9b4f1aee2584746ba9035abdc8db153.jpg

 

A mako I found, kind of beat up but the largest I have found from this area.

 

20190503_124429.thumb.jpg.6445f62869d4db12df17a8c9bdb3bb8f.jpg

 

more to come ................. 

 

 

 

  • I found this Informative 21

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

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Possibly the nicest ecphora I have ever found. It was in red dirt, we rarely find ecphora in the red dirt.

 

as found

 

20190503_113818.thumb.jpg.c9b546ff880b6a2f92f3027edcd97d87.jpg  20190503_113813.thumb.jpg.f32dab0d1fa2b31f1db930d2a0e51eaf.jpg

 

after cleaning

 

20190503_114537.thumb.jpg.e0cc66068ebc40a607bdc3f6692a65db.jpg  20190503_114218.thumb.jpg.88f57c3ddcd113f6cef50153e6101be8.jpg

 

more to come ............

 

 

 

  • I found this Informative 14

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

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while cleaning this ecphora I found a nice little surprise inside .... 

 

 

20190503_114208.jpg

 

and this is it, a tiny perfect Chesapecten. A beauty. 11.9 mm wide ans 11.3 mm long. 

 

20190503_114745.thumb.jpg.ca43a296b652d808dd452b4e4bd9eea3.jpg   20190503_114736.thumb.jpg.4d85b8a2e6fce3187e9eef1902d8bab4.jpg

 

more to come ......... 

  • I found this Informative 10

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

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Next a gorgeous heart clam, Glossus fraternus. A double valver tooooo!

 

20190503_182744.thumb.jpg.7e0d0d0e1773c4f0f244c51f85af6166.jpg  20190503_181838.thumb.jpg.dd4e98b96652f7ace3bdb8f01921d79c.jpg

 

20190503_181912.thumb.jpg.4bba5e5f3c6ee74d766c440f92551277.jpg

 

20190503_181813.thumb.jpg.29ce2cf07b8f8e7dec7888735aadcdfc.jpg

 

 more to come ........ 

 

 

  • I found this Informative 8

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

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Then this beautiful clam. Margaritaria abrupta

 

20190503_124030.thumb.jpg.ce587b1d2faf48598180491589179467.jpg  20190503_124044.thumb.jpg.a7f1ab8c8614f8110f917b9a0e148cb5.jpg

 

 a nice little gastropod, Boreotrophon tetricus

 

20190503_123837.thumb.jpg.9db8fa2e0b600d32bb9f72792e911347.jpg  20190503_123828.thumb.jpg.0bcbda675fd6ad942bca358841d6d30e.jpg

 

More to come ...... 

 

 

  • I found this Informative 9

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

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This 5 gallon bucket full of Chesapectens ... 

 

20190503_113226.thumb.jpg.2c98e44babee6023eb3cc1e0b7891676.jpg

 

 all of my shark teeth,  a fish vert, emmons fish teeth and some tilly bones. Also a really nice cookie from a dolphin vert. Looked for the vert but could not find it.

 

20190503_123852.thumb.jpg.e918f50f62e54216528acad75c3a8353.jpg

 

I found about 20 more ecphora. Several double valve Chesapectens along with a bunch more goodies. All in all, a fairly good day.

  • I found this Informative 5

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

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Superb Ecphora What a beauty! No pictures show for the Margaritaria or the bucket of Chesapectens. Now that I see the Nararitaria I agree it is beautiful. The picture makes it look like it has an aragonite interior? Love the other bivalve Glossus as well. Great finds and thanks for sharing.

Edited by fossilnut
added a question
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@fossilnut They should be there now. Had a glitch. By the way the Ecphora are E. quadricostata

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

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That Ecphora is a real beaut Don! I'm pretty envious of your buddys GW too..... just WOW:yay-smiley-1::wub::envy:

Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there!

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You certainly had a great day!  Those outcrops are a lot of fun; I wish I lived closer but I've only been there once when Ash took me out 

Do you know what those little cashew shaped things are on the plate in the last photo?  Also do you know what the fish vertebra is from?

 

Don

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1 hour ago, sixgill pete said:

Great whites, I found the smaller of these two. My buddy found the larger. It is exactly 3 inches. Mine is a measly 2 1/4.

Oh wow ... those are gorgeous.... One day I'll join that three inch club.  The roots are always so fragile here on the river.  These look like they have some perfect preservation.  Congrats !

 

Cheers,

Brett

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Great report and finds, Don! 

Congratulations! :) 

Glad to see you getting out there. 

    Tim    -  VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER

   MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png      PaleoPartner.png.30c01982e09b0cc0b7d9d6a7a21f56c6.png.a600039856933851eeea617ca3f2d15f.png     Postmaster1.jpg.900efa599049929531fa81981f028e24.jpg    VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png  VFOTM  --- APRIL - 2015  

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

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

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On 5/3/2019 at 8:33 PM, FossilDAWG said:

You certainly had a great day!  Those outcrops are a lot of fun; I wish I lived closer but I've only been there once when Ash took me out 

Do you know what those little cashew shaped things are on the plate in the last photo?  Also do you know what the fish vertebra is from?

 

Don

Hi Don. Ash was who I was with. You should have seen him when he found that big GW. 

The cashew shaped things are the emmons fish teeth. As far as the vert I have never tried to ID them. But that shape is unique. You coming to the festival?

Edited by sixgill pete

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

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8 hours ago, jcbshark said:

That Ecphora is a real beaut Don! I'm pretty envious of your buddys GW too..... just WOW:yay-smiley-1::wub::envy:

Thanks Jeff. That GW is definatly a head turner.

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

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8 hours ago, Brett Breakin' Rocks said:

Oh wow ... those are gorgeous.... One day I'll join that three inch club.  The roots are always so fragile here on the river.  These look like they have some perfect preservation.  Congrats !

 

Cheers,

Brett

Brett, those two teeth both look like they just fell out of the sharks mouth yesterday. 

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

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6 hours ago, Fossildude19 said:

Great report and finds, Don! 

Congratulations! :) 

Glad to see you getting out there. 

Thanks Tim. It was good to get back out to a river site.

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

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That Margaritaria abrupta is one of the most gorgeous bivalves I've ever seen... and that's coming from a guy that's seen way too many shells already! 

Man what a beauty!!! :wub::default_faint::envy:

One thing though... are you sure that the spelling is correct? I tried googling 'Margaritaria' and I only come up with plants :headscratch:

 

Anyways, your other finds are incredible too! Wow! Congrats on a really successful hunt!

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

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You must have been the first ones out there to have such wonderful success! Thanks for posting these. That ecphora is amazing. :wub:

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I love the two-for-one deal with the tiny Chesapecten hiding within the stunning Ecphora - wow!!! :wub:

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Looks like a good trip. The river levels need to be lower before I’ll venture out. Too hard to paddle upstream.

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2 hours ago, sixgill pete said:

Hi Don. Ash was who Ok was with. You should have seen him when he found that big GW. 

The cashew shaped things are the emmons fish teeth. As far as ty he vert I have never tried to ID them. But that shape is unique. You coming to the festival?

Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately I miscalculated and so I have to be in Atlanta to pick my wife up at the airport Saturday evening (the 25th).  Is there anything going on Friday (the 24th)?  

 

Don

 

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Great finds and nice descriptions.  My hunts "overlap" yours, but I don't think I have any true Great White or emmons teeth and have never seen the beautiful clam.

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Awesome trip and finds Don! We need to go in a hunt soon!

Process of identification "mistakes create wisdom".

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4 hours ago, Al Dente said:

Looks like a good trip. The river levels need to be lower before I’ll venture out. Too hard to paddle upstream.

Eric, the current was still very strong. Thankfully we were in a jon boat with a 25 horse engine. The water had just dropped to 5 feet at the gauge we monitor. 

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

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