New York State And Ontario Trip Day 5

[Shamalama]

Day 5 - Brechin, Ontario - Northern Sharks (Kevin) and Crinus (Joe) suggested I come along with them to go to an Ordovician quarry up near Brechin that exposes the Verulam formation. It's a nice limestone quarry with a couple of levels and is chock full of fossils! It had rained the night before and the quarry was a little muddy but I followed Joe's truck down to the lowest level. Kevin decided to stop on the second level and it was only after I got down to the bottom that Crinus commented that I was brave because the road back up is a little steep.

I only realized this once he pointed it out to me and was a little worried about more rain that might occur later. So I turned around and got up a head of steam to take a run at the slope only to get about half way up before hitting a soft patch of mud. I backed down and tried it again trying a slightly different track but had the same results. I backed down again and Joe came over to ask me if I wanted him to help by pushing. I decided to give it one more try on my own and got a longer start and really gunned the engine this time. I made it past the slippery point and drove back up to the second level. At that point I decided to listen to caution and continued my momentum back up to the first level and parked there. I gathered my tools and trudged back down to the third level and began to look around. Not much to be seen so Joe gave me a ride back up to the first level where we headed over to an area that Kevin had found some good stuff before. We pawed around the first level for a bit and found some interesting specimens. Kevin and I looked at drainage trench that had been dug and exposed some fossilferous rock with lots of Isotelus Hypostoma and small Zygospyra brachiopods.

Both of us found good specimens of the Bryozoan Stictoporella as well.

A few more collectors arrived that my escorts knew and shortly after everyone went their separate ways in the quarry to look around. I searched along one of the first level walls and found some loose Gastropods, Brachiopods and Bryzoans. Loose specimens of Prasapora were abundant along with other Bryozoan species.

After a while the weather was improving and I decided to head down to the second level. It hadn't rained since some drizzle in the morning so I felt safe to drive down. I found more Brachs with Strophomena, Plaesiomys, Dalmanella and Sowerbyella being the most common. Lots of Trilobite parts were evident with a couple of species I had never seen.

I found this odd looking, pyritized fossil as well but am not sure what it is.

At the end of the day we all drove up to the very top edge of the quarry where an orange colored, weathered limestone was strewn. Joe related a story of collecting up here many years ago and finding dozens of Echinoderm fossils. He found two Edrioasteroid fossils pretty quickly and made the mistake of telling the rest of us. A small stampede ensued as we all tried to find more specimens. I was the only other lucky collector by finding three more, two of which were on a single small plate.

Once it seemed that I couldn't find any more of the Edrios I went to another area and started to look at the weathered slabs closely. That was when I found several specimens of sword shaped Bryozoan Escaropora!

By that point the mosquito's were starting to bite and we all decided to head out.

I had a great time in the quarry and the Edrioasteroids and Escarpora were a great way to end my trip. I was headed back to the US the next day and I had some great fossils and memories. I will definitely be coming back again!

Special thanks to Joe, Kevin and Peter for hosting me, explaining the local geology and putting up my my Newbieness. You guys are welcome to come visit me in PA anytime!

[Northern Sharks]

Again, Dave summed up the day fairly well. After a nasty sounding weather forecast including thunderstorms, we went my local quarry not knowing how long we'd be able to hunt. The thunderstorms turned out to be little more than a bit of drizzle that only made the fossils easier to spot and the ground muddy. After watching Dave "gun it" up the ramp from the bottom level, I started poking aroung at the second tier down. Not much to be had, so I went back to the uppermost level where I had such good luck on my previous 2 trips this season. This area hasn't let me down yet, and true to form, I found another enrolled Flexicalymene, about as large as they get from this area. 6 trilobites in 3 trips -not too bad if you ask me. I decided to climb on the crush pile, but that was uneventful, and I was too pooped after the 2 previous days trips. I went back to the second level and found my best Lingula brach yet. I realize these are quite common in other locations, but I just can't seem to find many without sigificant damage.

I was ready to pack it in, when it was suggested we go to the area where the other pair had found Edrioasteroids. Within 5 minutes, Joe had a pair (Cryptogoleus and Isorophusella) and Dave had a trio of Isorophusella. Nobody else had any luck, but Dave, being the fine upstanding gentleman he is, left me the single edrio for future considerations. Needless to say, I'll be back at that spot with a scrub-brush looking for more under the loose rock. After the quarry, it was back to my place for dinner and a few pints and we all went our separate ways. A great weekend, and one that I won't soon forget. You're welcome back here anytime Dave (and Joe)

Edited May 9, 2010 by Northern Sharks

[MB]

Great trip and reports Shamalama

[pleecan]

Great report Guys and nice finds!!!

Dave the pyritized unknown reminds me of pyritized algae... the Bryozoan Escaropora is a weird looking fossil... have not seen one before... something new and a pair of edrios NICE.

Kevin: I like the enrolled trilo.... lingula is well preserved and the edrioasteroid ..bit weather is still a rare find.

Dave: Looks like you had a grand trip with fine memories!

Peter

[Plantguy]

Dave, looks like you and the gang had an outstanding collecting trip. Appreciate everyones input and photos. Lots of variety! Thanks for passing along the details about the geology. Regards, Chris

[Terry Dactyll]

Dave..... Great box of fossils in day4 and its nice to see you guys all meeting up and sharing locations and knowledge.... I wish I was there its what its all about !.... what you driving to get all them rocks home