Need some help with this Gainesville, Fl. fossil find

[ChantelNicole]

 

Can anyone help me identify this guy? Found in one of the creeks at Devils Millhopper Geological State Park, near the sinkhole. Thanks in advance! Completely addicted to hunting fossils since moving to Florida a few years back. This website full of knowledge and helpful fellow fossil hunters is such a treasure! 

 

[Fossildude19]

Your pictures did not attach. 

 

[ChantelNicole]

I think I fixed!

[Fossildude19]

Cropped and brightened/contrasted:

 

 

[digit]

The limestone in and around Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park ranges from later Miocene down to the Eocene Ocala Limestone at the deepest part of the sink. Though your piece with the largest imprint initially looked a bit like an impression from a solitary disc coral, it is likely an imprint of a mollusk shell. The smaller imprints all seem to be bivalve impressions. Most aragonitic shell material in the older rock units (like the Ocala Limestone) don't preserve very well. Certain mollusks (scallops, oysters, and a few other types) have shells composed of calcitic calcium carbonate instead of the softer aragonitic and silicified shell material can be found in the Ocala but most mollusk fossils are trace imprints where the shell has dissolved away and only the texture in the surrounding matrix remains. That's likely what you have here.

 

Hopefully, these bits were collected NEAR the Devil's Millhopper and not within the State Park boundaries as state parks (unless specifically noted) tend to have a "take only photographs, leave only footprints" policy to keep any cultural or biological artifacts in place for others to enjoy.

 

4 hours ago, ChantelNicole said:

Completely addicted to hunting fossils since moving to Florida a few years back.

It's (arguably) one of the safer addictions. Fossil hunting in Gainesville creeks on county property is prohibited and activities are regulated by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. Hunting in creeks that run through private property is legal (with the owner's permission) as long as certain limits are observed and rules followed (no digging in banks, etc.). Local authorities have been cracking down more in recent years due to some individuals who abused the privilege and were making a mess of the creeks.

 

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/85/2021/03/Creek-Pamphlet-final.pdf

 

There is one easy means of legally fossil hunting in Gainesville creeks if you don't personally know someone with property on a creek. It is a commercial venture dedicated to allowing folks to legally hunt for fossils. Drop me a PM if you'd like to know more.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[ChantelNicole]

Thank you for all the great information! I was completely unaware of that actually and really appreciate the heads up. That being said, do you know if there are any other areas in Northeast Florida or Central Florida worth taking a day trip to hunt fossils in a legal manner? Thanks again!

[digit]

I've heard that several of the beaches in the greater Jacksonville area can turn up fossilize shark teeth (and other fossils). Of course, these are well known so you'd have competition. Search this forum or the wider internet for "Jacksonville" and "fossil" to see what turns up. There are also the spoil pile islands off the Yankeetown boat ramp. Lots of echinoid fossils can be found that way from the Ocala Limestone. Again, some research searches here or on the wider net should turn up some info. If you have a boat/canoe/kayak or access to one then a Yankeetown "Easter egg hunt" would make a great fossil-hunting outing.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken