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Recently just got back from a trip on Tybee Island! During this trip I went out looking for shark teeth several times a day, and even did a tour with Sundial Charters! Overall in 6 days I found over 150 shark teeth and countless other fossils! I'll be posting them on here! Here's the coolest tooth I found actually on Tybee, I believe it's a Great Hammerhead.

Microfossil found at the Clark Quarry in coastal GA, USA 0.5 cm width across Was thinking it could be some kind of crab cuticle but did not have any comparative material and can’t find any. Thoughts as to what it might be and possible species?

Between 2020-23, two collectors who scuba dive for fossils throughout Florida and Georgia have recovered 5 chesapecten (including two paired valves) with morphological characteristics that signal a Miocene age. These characteristics include an acute byssal notch and a byssal fasciole that is strongly differentiated from the shell’s auricle in terms of sculpture and elevation. The largest of the adult shells also displays an active ctenolium. Additionally, one of the paired specimens displays significant gapes between valves when matched (the other pair was preserved as found by glue according to the collector and cannot be matched). These aforementioned traits are also emblatic of Miocene age for Chesapecten. These shells were recovered from the following areas in Georgia and Florida: Savannah River, Effingham County, Georgia (Collector 1) Specimen 1 (W = 108.0 mm) R valve L valve R valve - close up of byssal notch and fasciole (most of fasciole has been degraded) R valve - close up of ornamentation L valve - close up of ornamentation Profile Close up of matrix, gray sand Savannah River, Effingham County, Georgia (Collector 1) Specimen 2 (W = 101.6 mm) R valve R valve - interior R valve - close up of byssal notch and fasciole L valve - note barnacles are modern species, not fossilized L valve - interior L valve - close up of ornamentation on auricle Side profile of pair, showing gapes Front profile of pair, showing gapes Cumberland Island, Camden County Georgia (Collector 2) Specimen 3 (W = 114.3 mm) R valve, note encrustation is recent not fossilized R valve interior, thick shell apparent Close up of byssal notch and fasciole Close up of ctenolium, although modern encrustation makes it difficult to see what is going on in the ctenolium Close up of ornamentation St Mary’s River, Nassau County, Florida (Collector 2) Specimen 4 (W = 117.5 mm) R Valve R valve interior, active ctenolium and thick shell apparent Byssal notch and fasciole Close up of original sediment, note the olive and gray coloration Profile Suwanee River, Hamilton County, Florida (Collector 2) Specimen 5 (W = 69.9 mm) R valve, subadult specimen R valve interior, shell is thick for a subadult Unfortunately, stratigraphic data were not collected for these shells. However, among the Miocene strata from Coastal Georgia and NE Florida currently described in the literature, the Ebenezer Formation of Weems and Edwards (2001), of Upper Miocene (Tortonian age), appears to be the most suitable match based on the age of the Ebenezer and the characteristics of the shells found. The shells collected resemble Chesapecten middlesexensis of the Upper Miocene of Virginia and North Carolina. The Ebenezer was originally defined by Huddleston (1988) as a member of the Coosawhatchie Formation (Middle Miocene). Weems and Edwards later elevated it to formational rank based on differences in lithological and dinoflagellate composition compared to the rest of the Coosawhatchie. The Ebenezer formation consists of gray to olive-gray, fine- to medium-grained micaceous sand and stretches from South Carolina to NE Florida. Five mappable members are apparent and separable by distinct unconformities. The lower four members correspond to dinoflagellate zone DN 8, while the uppermost member corresponds to DN 9. Revision of the Ebenezer to Formational Rank from Weems and Edwards (2001) According to the dinoflagellate zonation of de Verteuil and Norris (1996), DN 8-9 aligns with the Little Cove Point Member (DN 8) and the Windmill Point Member (DN 9) of the St Mary’s Formation of Maryland and Virginia. Alignment of the Ebenezer to St Mary's Formation of MD and VA from Weems, Self-Trail and Edwards (2004) All specimens display similar characteristics which include an acute byssal notch, differentiated byssal fasciole, slightly inflated right valve, and a hinge size in adult specimens that is relatively small for adult chesapecten with the exception of Chesapecten covepointensis (DN 8 St Mary’s Formation) and in some cases Chesapecten santamaria (DN 9 St Mary’s Formation). Also, these shells could possibly be divided into two distinct variants although issues with preservation which appears to be somewhat better outside the Savannah River region may exaggerate these differences. Nevertheless, the Chesapecten collected outside of the Savannah River Region exhibit stronger, more raised ribs and have thicker, heavier shells compared to the specimens collected within the Savannah River region whose shells are thinner and ribs are lower and less pronounced. This is especially true of Specimen 1. Possibly that these variants originate from different members of the Ebenezer Formation. According to Weems and Edwards, “outside of the Savannah region, beds no older than dinoflagellate zone DN 9 occur”. This suggests that the shells collected outside of the Savannah River Region likely belong to Bed 5 of the Ebenezer Formation. Figure 3 of Weems and Edwards (2001) [shown below] suggests that someone scuba diving for fossils in the Savannah River is likely to collect in Bed 4. Therefore, it is possible that the Chesapecten specimens recovered from the Savannah River belong to Bed 4 of the Ebenezer Formation. This stratigraphic information aligns with the observed morphological differences among the specimens and tentatively supports the significance of these variations. Needless to say, more specimens are needed to confirm. Lateral Gradation of the Ebenezer from Georgia to Florida - Fig. 3 from Weems and Edwards (2001) Ward (1992) has remarked that the period between Chesapecten santamaria (DN 9) and Chesapecten middlesexensis (DN 10) represents a considerable loss of the fossil record in the stratigraphic succession of chesapecten. These Chesapecten, which bear a strong overall resemblance to Chesapecten middlesexensis while displaying traits of preceding species (smaller hinge, more differentiated byssal fasicole), could help bridge this apparent gap. Notably, no other Chesapecten in this age range outside of Maryland and Virginia have been reported in the literature. Personal Remarks The equivalency of these shells to the St Mary’s Formation, not the Eastover formation is surprising to me given the strong resemblance to C. middlesexensis. If anyone knows of any findings correlating DN 8-9 to the Eastover, or of the Ebenezer to DN 10 please let me know. Also, if anyone has any additional samples of similar shells from similar sites, even in SC please let me know. Thank you! References de Verteuil, L., and Norris, G., 1996, Miocene dinoflagellate stratigraphy and systematics of Maryland and Virginia: Micropaleontology, vol. 42 (Supplement), 172 p. Huddlestun, P.F., 1988, A revision of the lithostratigraphic units of the coastal plain of Georgia; the Miocene through the Holocene: Georgia Geologic Survey Bulletin, no. 104, 162 p. Ward, L.W, 1992, Molluscan biostratigraphy of the Miocene, Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain of North America, VMNH Memoirs, no 2, 152p. Weems, R.E, Edwards, L.E., 2001, Geology of Oligocene, Miocene, and younger deposits in the Coastal Area of Georgia: U.S. Geological Survey, no 131, 129 p. Weems, R.E, Self-Trail J., Edwards, L.E., 2004, Supergroup stratigraphy of the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains (Middle? Jurassic through Holocene, eastern North America): Southeastern Geology, volume 42, p 191-216

Hi all, I found this as a child on a vacation years ago, not entirely sure where it came from but I grew up in Atlanta and most of our vacations were in Florida or along the east coast, this was found most likely in Florida or along the Georgia Barrier Islands, but it could be from as far north as Hilton Head Beach in South Carolina. Anyone have any idea if this is a fossil coral, or just a regular piece of coral that is well-weathered? What species might this be? Thanks all.

I found this tooth on a dredge island in georgia it’s probably the biggest piece of megalodon tooth ive ever found and was wondering if theres any experts that could say how big the tooth was whole. Ive done some speculating with a drawing but wanted other opinions.

These are some dophin like teeth ive found and just wondering if anyone of them was something different like a bear or something completely different? All of these teeth except one were found in florida. Most of them in the peace river one of them in gainesville and the other in georgia. The second to last photo was the one from gainesville and the last photo is the one from georgia.

Can someone please help me identify this? I found it at our camp site on the Chattahoochee river in Chattahoochee County Georgia. I’ve been researching and it seems to be very similar to some of the pictures of fossilized skin….. Any ideas would much be appreciated. Thanks so much!

Various turritella fossils

can anyone tell by the picture whether or not this is a shark tooth or a shell? I found it on the coast of Georgia a few weeks ago I’ve read a little bit about shark teeth versus shells in the Internet. The more I think about it, I’m much more confused. Can anyone please tell me your thoughts.

My name is Brandt, 63 y/o, and call home Augusta, GA. Totally a novice and have spent a lot of time walking South Carolina beaches. Other than shark teeth, I have found many interesting and yet unidentified fossils, so I will post pics of my finds in the coming weeks and I look forward to any feedback or ideas. Already got some help on my first post! Looking forward to interacting with TFF!

Hi all, I recently returned from spending a few days searching the beach of Tybee Island, Georgia, and found something I am unsure as to what it is. From reading online it looks like the age could be anywhere from Miocene to present. My initial gut is some sort of vertebra. Please let me know if any other photos or information would be helpful. Thank you!

Found walking the beach, Google lens says shark vertebra but the people at the science center didn't know.

Found on dredge island off of Savannah River.

Hello, I found this fossil shell in kaolin clay. I was wondering if somebody knew what species it was. The kaolin clay is supposed to be Cretaceous and Paleocene age. Thanks in advance.

Any ideas what this tooth may be? I found it when I was a kid (mid-1980s) on the beach at Blackbeard Island, Georgia. Thanks for any help.

A rangeomorph holdfast trace fossil from the Ediacara formation, Rawnsley quartzite of the Flinders Range, South Australia. This specimen is Medusina mawsoni, so called because it was until recently thought to be a jellyfish, but is now believed to be the attachment point of a fractal rangeomorph as Charniodiscus is the point of anchorage for Charnia sp. This one may have been the holdfast point for some species of Rangea. The diameter of the outer circle is 1.5 cm and the fossil is estimated to be 555 million years old.

Hello, I found these on a dirt road in central Georgia, need help identifying, thanks in advance.

Hello, My 18-year-old son and I are visiting my father in northern Georgia (near Cleveland) in a couple of weeks. Are there any good fossil sites in that region that anyone can recommend? My dad is in his 70s, but is still mobile and hikes regularly. My son and I can carry heavy stuff, so the site doesn't need to be super easily accessible. Right now my son is really into trilobites, but I'm honestly up for anything! Many thanks! Kerry

Most people are familiar with the Conasauga Formation when they think of Georgia's Cambrian record, but the Peach State has a paleontological history dating back several million years before the Conasauga was deposited. Indeed, the oldest fossils in Georgia date back to the early Cambrian, and consist of a diverse form of worms, brachiopods, trilobites, and other creatures such as hyoliths and archaeocyathids. This early Cambrian record is largely divided into three formations, from oldest to youngest the Weisner Formation (part of the Chilhowee Group), the Shady Dolomite, and the Rome Formation. All of these formations, as well as the overlying middle Cambrian rocks of the Conasauga Formation, are well exposed in the Rome and Cartersville areas. Cartersville is a mid-sized town in North Georgia with a rich interconnection between history and geology. Situated near the confluence of three major geological provinces (the Valley and Ridge, the Blue Ridge, and the Piedmont), the Cartersville area was uniquely positioned for the discovery and future development of a variety of mineral resources. Wide scale mining began in the mid-19th century with the establishment of the Etowah Iron Works along the Etowah River. Although the bulk of the works were destroyed by Union forces during the Civil War, mining not only continued in and around Cartersville but actually expanded in the post-war period. Iron was the principal product for a while owing to the region's rich limonite deposits, but by the turn of the century ochre and barite production also became prominent, if not more so. Mining operations peaked by the middle of the 20th century, but some active mines remain in the area, and they continue to be a favorite with mineral and fossil collectors. Thankfully, this past history of mining, combined with the recent construction due to Atlanta's explosive growth, has exposed rocks typically left buried under the thick clay and vegetation of North Georgia. The Shady Dolomite was, and still is, the focus of the brunt of the ochre mining around Cartersville. A carbonate unit, the Shady is easily weathered in North Georgia's humid and rainy climate, dissolving much of the rock and underlaying the ground in a thick, reddish clay. Due to the nature of the weathering, however, distinct beds can sometimes be seen in cuts made into the Shady, as shown in the above photo from a construction site in Cartersville. Another exposure of the red clay residuum made out of weathered material from the Shady Dolomite. Although the carbonates of the Shady are frequently weathered into a thick, red muck, this weathering process typically uncovers a wide variety of rock types that are more resistant to chemical attack, and which would have otherwise been locked into the dolomite. At exposures like the one above, pieces of shale, iron oxides, and chert are common. Alongside the chert are fossils from some of the oldest reef communities in Georgia. This small piece of rock contains fragments of archaeocyathids, ancient sponge-like organisms that once established reefs in the early Cambrian sea. Alongside archaeocyathids, other fossils like trilobites and brachiopods are sometimes found in the Shady, but I didn't find any personally. Aside from iron and ochre, Cartersville was an important center for barite mining around the turn of the century. Most barite mines were located east of town, near the contact between the Valley and Ridge and the Blue Ridge provinces. Although most have been filled in or flooded, one pit that is still left can be seen at Pine Mountain east of town. A few pieces of barite ore line the trail leading up the mountain. A small piece of barite ore from near Cartersville. The walls of a former mining operation near the base of Pine Mountain contrasted with an image of a similar mine when in operation. Leading up the trail at Pine Mountain, one travels across geologic provinces. The valley floor is underlain by rocks of the Shady Dolomite and Rome Formation, part of the Valley and Ridge province, while Pine Mountain itself lies within the Blue Ridge. Climbing up Pine Mountain, you begin to sense that change reflected in the rocks underneath you. The red clay and chert residuum of the Valley and Ridge gives way to brown and white dirt, and the chert and dolomite boulders give way for quartzose sandstones, quartzites, and schists. Along the trail, numerous pieces of quartz sandstone from the Weisner Formation are exposed, and in these boulders you can sometimes catch glimpses of the earliest recorded life in Georgia! The picture here shows a sandstone boulder with a couple of well-worn Skolithos linearis worm burrows. Whereas the Shady Dolomite was deposited in a shallow, tropical sea, the upper Chilhowee Group was deposited in a near-shore environment as indicated by the coarse sediment. That means that 530-550 million years ago, during the early Cambrian, what is now a mountain would have been a warm, sandy beach! And, although they may not seem like much, the humble tubes in the rock illustrate a time when life was not everywhere abundant, and the diverse lifeforms we find at beaches today had yet to appear. Climbing the rocky trail to the summit, one is well-rewarded with a view of the entire Cartersville area, including a view across much of the Piedmont to Kennesaw Mountain beyond, and across much of the Great Valley to the Armuchee Ridges. One can also get a sense of the legacy of intense mining that took place around Cartersville from the many red-colored pits scoured into the nearby hillsides, ghosts of operations past and present. On top of all of that, one can also visualize the impact geology has on the topography of an area. Being the intersection of so many geologic provinces, the Cartersville area is marked by numerous faults, folds, and other complex structural geology that has left pockets of one formation nearly surrounded by pockets of another. This has contributed to the hilly nature around Cartersville, as the comparatively resistant rocks of the Rome Formation and Chilhowee Group forms island-hills in the sea-valleys of the Shady Dolomite. The view from Pine Mountain. The red areas are current and past mines around Emerson, Georgia, just south of Cartersville (which includes the buildings in white). The hills here, which make up part of the Allatoona Mountains, are held up by resistant units like the Chilhowee and Rome while the valleys are underlain by softer carbonates like the Shady. On a clearer day you could make out the Armuchee Ridges lying at the western edge of the Great Valley, a synclinorium of Cambro-Ordovician rocks that stretches from here all of the way to Quebec. I hope you enjoyed the report!

I dug these up last week in East GA. This is a well known site to collect 'Savannah River Agate' but it's not agate, it is chert. Almost every piece I have has some white material adhering to the chert that to me resembles coquina. I'm curious as to what the object on the 006 picture is. I think the object in the two fossil pictures is a turritella snail but I'm not real sure.

I've had the opportunity to collect in some Mississipian-aged units in Georgia recently. Like neighboring Alabama and Tennessee, Georgia's Mississippian is made up mostly of non-clastic rocks, chiefly limestone and chert, with a few notable exceptions such as the Floyd Shale and Hartselle Sandstone. Although other states might be better known for their Mississippian fauna, Georgia boasts many of the same fossils, and can be a good source for them if you can find the right exposure. So far, I've collected in a few different formations in Georgia; the Fort Payne Chert, the Floyd Shale, what I believe is the St. Louis Limestone, the Hartselle Sandstone, and the Pennington Formation. This is a beautiful, large horn coral, from what I believe is the St. Louis Limestone. An intricately preserved productid brachiopod, also from the St. Louis. A large spiriferid brachiopod from the St. Louis. Another large spiriferid from the St. Louis. And another. I believe this is a fish/shark tooth in a large block of crinoidal St. Louis Limestone. A well-weathered ammonoid from the St. Louis. Multiple corals in a piece of St. Louis Limestone, with a nickel for scale. I believe a part of a trilobite hypostome? Abundant fenestrate bryozoans from the Hartselle Sandstone. A pelycopod from the Floyd Shale. A small spiriferid from the Floyd Shale. And another. Not really sure, but it's from the Floyd Shale. Maybe genal spines or something? Thanks for reading!

im new to the fossil forum i live in the north west georgia area and was wandering if anyone knows of any fossil spots.

Found on coastal island , Georgia USA. Tip appears to be broken slightly. Bullet shaped and solid throughout. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Hey everyone, new here, but hoping I’ve come to the right place! My family just got back from tooth hunting on shark tooth island and found these too and wondered how we could confirm what they are and if they’re just ordinary or could be extraordinary!

Hi, These were long lost fossils that I happened upon the other day. I collected them in 1981 somewhere north of Atlanta in Georgia. At the time, I thought they might be Trilobites from the Cambrian, but now am now I have no idea what they are or even if they are from the Cambrian. Sorry, I can't give a more definitive location, formation or time period. The rock is very soft, almost chalk-like. As I recall, they were in talus from outside a quarry. Any I.D. will be gratefully appreciated.