RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Hi all, In continuation of Ludwigia's topic I'll show you another example of "fossil biking" along with some info on Moscow fossils. There's a dozen of spots within the city limits where you can at least try to find some fossils, one of them being Fili Park . It's an Upper Jurassic formation, similar to the one described here as in those times Moscow region lied on the bottom of the same shallow sea as the Volga basin. The difference is that in Moscow Upper Tithonian (Volgian) is better represented. The quality of the finds is unfortunately much worse. Fili Park is situated on the right bank of river Moscow (Moskva) not far from the city center. Its a narrow band of forest with a steep slope towards the river. The pace is well-known among Moscow paleontologists to the extent that somebody said "everyone starts with Fili". I did not start with Fili and actually learned about its existence (fossil-wise) not long ago. I was surprised that you could easily find Jurassic material near the center of the megapolis (something along the lines of fossil hunting in NYC Central Park) and the fact that ammonite nacre was well preserved. I decided to give the place a go. And use a bike as the fossils spots are a long walk from the entrance. Here Fili district is outlined in red. 9 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 Fili Park promenade 2 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 There are a dozen creeks cutting through the Jurassic clay but only a few are rich in fossils.They are not immediately visible from the promenade, you have to search for the spot where they flow into the river, like this one. 1 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The creeks are very small and covered by fallen trees. The fossil spots are not far from the river. 5 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 3 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 In the creeks themselves you can easily find echinoid spines, belemnites and even small shark teeth, but the most prized are ammonite shells of nacre 6 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 5 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 6 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 Complete shells are incredibly fragile and cannot be found in the creeks. You have to dig for them, having removed the quarternary layer. Dig literally in water and mud. Good news is that you can find someone else's pit like this one, even with a shovel and a self-made screen. 6 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 Of course I have my own equipement: a pair of construction gloves, a tube of glue, a stretch film, a packed compact raincoat, a boxed folding shovel and waterproof overshoes from an army hazmat suit - all in a backpack, also foldable. 3 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 Those overshoes and shovel 2 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The place I was digging 2 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 The ammonites are just found in mud and if you are attentive and lucky enough, you can spot the signs of them and try to extract without them breaking in pieces. 7 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 Those are some of the finds. The ammonites are endemic Kashpurites and Craspedites. Bivalves are abundant 17 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 12 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuMert Posted September 23, 2019 Author Share Posted September 23, 2019 On top of that I found a really big concretion from which I hope to extract some intact shells. I'll post my progress later. Thanks for reading! 7 My sites & reports Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aek Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Those are really beautiful, I love the iridescence. Also fun to find fossils in city limits, thanks for sharing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darktooth Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Great report! Those specimens look really nice. Please post pics when they are all cleaned up. 1 I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Excellent report! Thank you for taking us along! Wonderful ammonites! 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FranzBernhard Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Such a great and comprehensive fossil hunting report! Thank you very much for sharing your adventure in such great detail with us! And soooo lovely fossils!! Franz Bernhard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TqB Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Great report! My main interest is belemnites and it's good to see Russian Tithonian specimens - we don't get Tithonian ones in the UK! Beautiful ammonites too, of course. 2 Tarquin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterpillar Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Great report but be careful by digging like that in sand. A collector died last month in the south of France. The sand has collapsed on him 1 http://www.paleotheque.fr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Gorgeous ammonites! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Excellent report and nice finds! Thanks for posting! I love seeing fossils from other parts of the world, and what people do to find them. Beautiful ammonites! 1 The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilDAWG Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 I'm envious! Those ammonites and belemnites are just beautiful. Don 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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