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I took a trip up to Summerville this weekend and had a pretty successful trip, pulling out my best SC meg so far, and and a heartbreaker angustidens and deseri, here's the finds.

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 are unavailable 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) These specimens share characteristics such as 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. These variants might 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 could 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 - at least from my POV. So, perhaps the Chesapectens 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 accompanied by detailed fieldwork are needed to confirm. Otherwise, these thoughts are largely speculation. 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

Good evening everyone! Looking around the web a bit, I wanted to offer you some photographs of some teeth on auction which will still have very high prices regardless of their quality or otherwise, but which at first sight seem very beautiful to me. Considering that I am a beginner, I wanted to ask you for your opinion on the condition of the three teeth so as to understand if I am starting to glimpse defects or possible repairs. The first spinosaurus tooth seems very beautiful to me, I don't see any cracks on the crown bu it seems to me that a vertical lateral list of enamel is missing. The root seems strange to me with this gray color (but I'm easily wrong)

I want to go back to Peace River but I don't want to do the normal canoe outpost thing this time. I want to take a kayak south of Zolfo springs were the river gets bendy, shallow, and remote. I don't have a kayak so I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for where I can rent one or if they want a hunting buddy for the second week of May.

Location: Holden Beach, NC, USA Height: 1" / 2.2cm Width: 1" / 2.3cm Thickness: 3/16" / 0.6cm

Apologies in advance for the low quality pictures. We are on vacation and I snapped a few of these very quickly as we were running about. Hoping to get some insight here. I found this on the beach in Hilton Head, South Carolina USA (July 2024). I’ve always wanted to find a shark tooth and this is the closest object I’ve found that resembles a fossilized shark tooth. Looking for a “gut check” of sorts to determine if it’s a shark tooth, part of an oyster shell, or something else. It’s incredibly dense and isn’t at all fragile like a typical shell, although the ridges are unlike any of the typical shark teeth I’ve researched online. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

I had a chance to go out and chose a Miocene Creek in Bone Valley that has delivered for me in the past, but has had some extensive hunting by lots of others. I have 3 or 4 locations that are "special", the 1st was just OK (small teeth including a few sandtigers, but the 2nd and 3rd locations were basically cleaned out. My last location still had a few small teeth and Ray dermals but not what I was looking for... After 2 hours I had not found one of those wowzers. Then this screen or I should say shovel full. That is correct ... 1 Shovel full.. 40 mm Meg in center, 40 mm gold Hemipristis on the left, broken whale tooth upper right and a yellow Sandtiger lower right... Now THAT's more like it. Just a belief that , whatever else happens, I would find a untouched pocket of fossils... This tooth is unusual... because most of what I am finding is marine fauna I have my mind on Miocene and I see the cracked enamel, so I figure it has to be old... but finally decide it is Bovid, an upper tooth. May not be big enough for Bison.. Only leaves Modern cow, but what about that cracked enamel.. How long does that take? How old can it be.. 150 years ? Back to some Miocene Here is everything... A day that greatly exceeds expectations

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Found this near shoal creek after excavators came through. Tons of other fossils like Illymatogyra arietinas around. It is shaped like a tooth, and I noticed the marks that look like dentin lines. No enamel, wondering if it could be a completley mineralized tooth. It's about 4 inches.

Hi friends! I just recently moved from Gainesville to Lake City, and have been reading about fossiling in the area... Seems like the Suwannee River makes for some pretty good finds. I don't scuba or have a kayak, I was wondering if anyone might be able to give me some hints about exact places to go on the river to access some more shallow beds for places that I could wade and sift. Particular Bridges, stretches, Etc. It doesn't seem like the topic has come up in quite a few years. Thanks in advance!

Can anyone help me ID this worn out shark tooth? Found on the beach near Manasota Key, FL while sifting in the water.

Here's a few samples of things I've discovered while diving over the years. On the wall is an epoxy river table I created to display the teeth. On the shelf below it are my best finds from the Meg Ledge offshore in NC. The other pics are various pottery pieces, whale fossils, colonial era clay pipes, uncleaned teeth from NC, and various bones I never ID'd. Enjoy!

Hi everyone! Just found this forum and am excited to finally be part of the group. I live in Oviedo, FL (east side of Orlando), but do a lot of blackwater diving in SC. I've also done lots of dives on the Meg Ledge off the coast of NC. as well. I've found 1000's of teeth, colonial artifacts, various fossils, and pottery. My problem is I haven't met a single other person (except my family), who isn't afraid of dark water! I love it and would rather blackwater dive for fossils than I would a tropical reef!

Hey guys, I've been off the radar for awhile .. work you know .. been working on Siggraph for those of you who are familiar with software development. Just wanted to start a new topic here .. This one is right at 3.00" - 7.62cm C. carcharias Bahia Inglesa Formation South of Caldera Provincia Copiapo III Regio de Atacama Chile

If you know anything about modern white sharks, how big are teeth of this size? The size is 58mm. How big was this great white shark? Are great white shark teeth of this size large?

Recently I read a post on this forum about Chubutensis teeth looking like Megalodon teeth apart from their cusps. This is listed as a Megalodon but has cusps, or at least what appear to be cusps

Found in Lake Tahoe

Need some advice how to mount meg teeth and Mosasaurus teeth using a shadowbox. I’ve heard using silicone can work but would it harm the teeth? I'd love to hear your ideas.

Hi! I am not sure if this is meant to go here. This may come across as a seriously stupid and uneducated question , but are Megalodon vertebrae real? I have looked online and haven’t seen any photos.

Recently got back from a trip on Holden Beach, and just WOW. Words can't describe the uniqueness of being able to find Mosasaur teeth next to Megalodon teeth. The recent Hurricane brought in many new fossils and I had quite good luck. Here are some photos of the trip, I will post a picture showing all of my best finds shortly, but for now enjoy! First, here are some of the Squalicorax pristodontus teeth I collected. These were relatively common.

This fossil is being purchased because it is a large Chubutensis tooth. The cusp is not clearly visible, but the seller says that not all Chubutensis teeth have clear cusps. The discovery is in Beaufort, South Carolina.

This time, it is a 4.2 inch Chubutensis tooth discovered in Bobert, South Carolina that will be included in the shark tooth collection! The cusps aren't that prominent, but I think they're great teeth!

This is one of my Megalodon tooth collections. What is that sticking out here? Is it called a bridge? The Chubutensis teeth are sticking out like this. Is there a possibility of Chubutensis teeth? It's just a pathological tooth, right?