Cataloging My Beginner Collection

[Masonk]

Hi All,

On May 21st, 2023, my family and I took a 90 minute drive to Colt's Neck, NJ, to visit a place called Big Brook Preserve. I saw a video on Instagram of a person finding Cretaceous period shark teeth in the middle of a crick bed. I had to go to this place. Wife and I loaded up our 12 and 10 year  old, and off we went. 

 

Our first trip provided us with 1 complete shark tooth (Scapanorhynchus - Goblin Shark), 1 partial shark tooth (same), some belemnites, a few oyster valves (Agerostera) and a nice Devonian period trace scallop fossil.

 

I was hooked, family had their fun. We made another trip out the next week. Shark teeth came a lot easier, and we found a complete Squalicorax tooth, a couple complete Goblin shark teeth, and a few partials. We also found a complete Enchodus tooth. We kept finding new species. 

 

Next trip I went solo. Family kind of lost interest, but I was hoping to find some of the other species I read about being found in the Brook. Well, this trip set the hook for me. I discovered a tooth, and after posting on a FB group, confirmed it belonged to a Mosasaur. It was small, but mostly complete aside from a small portion of the point. Amazing!

 

I was cleaning up some of my other finds, and had this shiny rock that I thought was more than a rock. But, this was in a pile of other rocks that might be more than a rock, that turned out to be just rocks   Well, I posted this piece on a FB group, and to my surprise it was a fragment of a Mastodon tooth! Whoa! Never thought I'd find something like that, especially in NJ of all places. I'm sure I'll never find another, but glad to say I found the one.

 

Since then I've been back pretty much every weekend, checking out the different brooks. Have found several more different species since then, and each time is a new adventure. Hoping to branch out to other areas of the country soon. Family & I are going to Beltzville State Park in August. Area is known for Devonian period fossils right on the shoreline. And a trip to Calvert Cliffs, MD is definitely in my near future!

 

In any case, I thought it would be interesting to catalog some of my finds as I go along. Thanks for looking, and feedback good or bad is always welcomed (please correct anything I've misidentified - I'm still learning, and won't be offended).

 

Eric

 

I'll kick-off with photos of some of the locations I've visited.

 

Big Brook - First and one of my favorite spots

 

 

 

 

 

Ramanessin Brook - Lot's of small shark teeth

 

 

Leopard frog joined me for a few sifts.

[Masonk]

Belemnitella americana rostrums. You're guaranteed to find several of these on any trip to Big Brook. Collection over multiple visits. 

[Danielb]

Nice belemnites

[Masonk]

46 minutes ago, Danielb said:

Nice belimites

Thanks!

[Masonk]

Devonian trace fossil found in Big Brook. The Brachiopod stands out the most, however when you zoom in, there are fenestrate bryozoan (thanks for the ID @Mark Kmiecik). Simple, but one of my favorite items to date. 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2023 by Masonk

[Masonk]

This was a more recent find, also from Big Brook. Almost complete crustacean claw trapped in matrix. Likely belonged to a Ghost Shrimp (Mesostylus mortoni).

 

 

 

[Masonk]

 Pycnodont fish, Anomaeodus phaseolus. These were collected over several visits to Monmouth County, NJ, with the vomerine crusher being found on my last visit to Big Brook. 

 

 

[Mark Kmiecik]

On 7/5/2023 at 12:48 PM, Masonk said:

 

The small stuff here appears to be a fenestrate bryozoan.

[Masonk]

18 minutes ago, Mark Kmiecik said:

 

The small stuff here appears to be a fenestrate bryozoan.

Thank you for the correct ID. I've updated my original post. 

[Wrangellian]

Nice photography!

[Masonk]

12 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

Nice photography!

Thanks! Much appreciated!

 

I just purchased a light box. Definite game changer. Next step is a decent DSLR with a macro lens. 

[Masonk]

From my 3rd trip to Big Brook, first outing on my own. I remember finding this not far from the overpass near parking on Hillsdale. 

 

At first I wasn't sure what I had, but knew it was a tooth. Wasn't until it dried out that I could see the grain. I posted it on a local FB group, and a few people helped confirm the tooth belonged to a Mosasaur!

 

I've found a couple tooth fragments since then, but this my best, most complete so far. Length is a mighty 3/8"! 

 

 

 

 

[Masonk]

Exogyra, bottom valve

 

This bottom valve I found in the dredge piles at the C&D Canal in Delaware City, DE

 

 

This bottom valve I found in Big Brook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 6, 2023 by Masonk

[patelinho7]

Very well documented and displayed collection for just starting out! Gives me good ideas for my own collection! Great post.

[Masonk]

1 hour ago, patelinho7 said:

Very well documented and displayed collection for just starting out! Gives me good ideas for my own collection! Great post.

 

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words! 

 

I wish I had started a thread like this with my other hobbies. Would be cool to look back later to see where I started, and where I'm at now. 

[Masonk]

Squalicorax - There are a couple species of extinct Crow Shark in Monmouth Brooks (pristodontus and kaupi).

 

These are all of my complete examples found to date. Location is a mix of Big Brook (majority) and Ramanessin Brook.

 

I love the color diversity with these teeth. The reddish browns and shaded greens, sometimes almost aqua. Such cool preservation, especially when the serrations are still well defined.

 

 

 

 

 

[Masonk]

Pyncnodonte, left and right valve respectfully. Both were found in the dredge piles at the C&D Canal in Delaware City, DE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[minnbuckeye]

Nice collection!! I enjoy the Indian Head Nickle too  But using coins as an indicator of size is frowned upon in this forum. My suggestion is to use a measuring device that members from around the world will recognize.

[Masonk]

9 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

Nice collection!! I enjoy the Indian Head Nickle too  But using coins as an indicator of size is frowned upon in this forum. My suggestion is to use a measuring device that members from around the world will recognize.

 

Thanks! Appreciate it.

 

I've included the below photo to establish scale for the nickel.

 

 

 

[Masonk]

Mammut americanum. Fragment of a Mastodon tooth found in Big Brook in New Jersey. 

 

 

 

 

[Echinoid Express]

Very cool collection! I like the colors on the mosasaur tooth and the Squalicorax teeth, they're very distinct!

[Wrangellian]

13 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

Nice collection!! I enjoy the Indian Head Nickle too  But using coins as an indicator of size is frowned upon in this forum. My suggestion is to use a measuring device that members from around the world will recognize.

Mainly by one member in particular!  But I don't disagree... (I wish I could use an old coin too)

 

4 hours ago, Masonk said:

Thanks! Appreciate it.

I've included the below photo to establish scale for the nickel.

Also, most of the world outside the US, and science generally, use metric!  Not that most people aren't at least somewhat familiar with the old scale.

Edited July 8, 2023 by Wrangellian

[Coco]

3 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

Mainly by one member in particular! 

Are you talking about me ? I’m not the only one doing it, I’m especially the oldest to ask ! You don’t care because you’re on the American continent, but for the rest of the world it’s a heresy to use money or any other object that isn’t used to establish a measure in cm or inches... And we are numerous on this forum !

 

@MasonkIt’s not the size of the penny that interests us, but the size of your fossil! We’re not going to memorize the size of all American coins !

 

Coco

Edited July 8, 2023 by Coco

[Bobby Rico]

Nice collection, really good clear photos . I will have to keep an eye on this thread.

 

I understand you using a coin especially one that looks really cool in the photos, it is an artistic approach to be aesthetically pleasing. I also think it is probably easier to photograph regarding light  and shadow the fossil upright compared to it been flat against a ruler and then photograph from above, 
 

The coin looks just over 2cm or 21mm this may help the metric members, it works for me.  
 

cheers Bobby 

Edited July 8, 2023 by Bobby Rico

[Masonk]

On 7/7/2023 at 6:44 PM, Echinoid Express said:

Very cool collection! I like the colors on the mosasaur tooth and the Squalicorax teeth, they're very distinct!

 

Thanks! They definitely stand out!