SearchingThePast Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 Hello everyone! Thanks for taking a minute to read this. Heading over to Maryland this weekend for some fossil hunting. I was hoping to get some guidance on some spots in PA. Which we are planning on heading to on Tuesday (June 18th). Would like to know if there are any areas where we could find some plant fossils. I know from doing some research the areas may be limited. It's our first time collecting plant fossils so any tips would be appreciated as well! Thank you! Link to post Share on other sites
historianmichael Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 What part of PA will you be traveling through? Western, Central or Eastern? Link to post Share on other sites
I_gotta_rock Posted June 13, 2019 Share Posted June 13, 2019 The plant fossils are mostly in NE Pennsylvania. The most popular spot, St. Clair, is now closed to the public, but there are other places in the area with very nicely detailed plants. Send me a PM if you want. 2 Link to post Share on other sites
sTamprockcoin Posted June 14, 2019 Share Posted June 14, 2019 If you can tell us what routes or counties in PA you expect to travel through you may get specific spots. I have done a A LOT of roadside collecting in Central PA and may be able to suggest a few good spots. Unfortunately most of the plant material is in the NE or West in abandoned coal strip mines which can be frustrating to hunt if they're grown over, smelly/dangerous due to acid mine drainage, slippery conditions, and unsafe(danger of explosion, chemical contamination, or being shot if you walk up on cookers) due to portable METH LABS. Unless you're with a local who knows the spot I'd stay out. That being said there is still some good possibility. Link to post Share on other sites
Fossildude19 Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 Search the Forum for Carbondale, PA. Centralia is also a place for plant fossils. Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites
SearchingThePast Posted June 16, 2019 Author Share Posted June 16, 2019 I think we would be in the central/northern area, but would not be opposed to searching in other areas of PA. Link to post Share on other sites
hemipristis Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 4 hours ago, SearchingThePast said: I think we would be in the central/northern area, but would not be opposed to searching in other areas of PA. There are exposures of fossiliferous shale along Route 81 road cuts north and south of the Pottsville area. The fossils consist of ferns, branches and 'tree' trunks in a dark shale. I believe that they are are still middle Pennsylvanian in age, same as the St Clair ferns. I've seen large tree trunks as well as ferns, from several species. Link to post Share on other sites
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