Wonderful wet day in Central New York!

[Darktooth]

Today I was fortunate enough to get back out on another fossilhunt. Even though I went to bed later then I wanted about 3:50 am I woke up and tossed and turned for the next hour. I was very excited to get back to the site after last week's fun. So I ended up leaving a bit earlier than originally planned. I stopped to get myself a breakfast sandwich and when I got back in my car, a feeling washed over me that today I was going to be lucky.

 

Of course I feel that way everytime I go hunting, but it doesn't always happen. The ride was dark and foggy. This time of year you really have to pay attention to the deer population. We have many in New York and it is now hunting season. So they are very active between sunset till sunrise. Surprisingly I didn't see many on the way there, but just missed a small one that ran in front of my car on the way home.

 

I arrived at 7 am as it was just starting to get light. But between the fog and clouds it was rather gloomy. It started sprinkling but I read the weather report so I was prepared. I was glad to find the area just the way I left it last week.

I wanted to work the same spot, but just go deeper. Things started off kind of slow. With the exception of a decent Dipluera cephalon all I was finding was many of the common smaller Brachiopods and Bivalves. But then it happened! I was lifting up a rather big slab, when I flipped over had half of the negative from a Dipluera. The positive was under a bunch of muddy water due to the rain, so I couldn't even see it. It took me awhile to get the water to drain so I could see what I was working with. Once the water was gone I see the back end of the trilo. I could tell that the front half was still attached to the piece I pulled of the top. Even though it was broke I was excited. I figured if I could get both halves, the trilo could be glued back and prepped. Unfortunately when I tried to remove the bottom portion the trilo broke into a bunch of pieces.

I tried to not let this ruin my day. I have done this long enough to know that when you find a decent Dipluera there

are usually others close by. So I continued working on removing slabs. I don't think more the 10 -15 minutes went by maybe 3 or 4 pieces of rock, when it happened again! I lifted up a slab, flipped it over and there was a complete negative of a Dipluera! I looked down and in the back corner of where I was digging was the positive! My heart was pounding! Now if I could just remove it without it falling apart like the first one. And I needed to move quick before the rainwater started to accumulate to much around the trilo. 

After a few minutes of careful extraction: success! I came out unbroken!

This really meant alot to me today. Most of those who know me know that I have found alot of these over the years. I have either sold, traded, or given away as gifts all that I found. So it is nice to be able to have one in my collection again. 

After I pulled out this Dipluera there was also a Greenops laying in the same general area. After removing that I was pretty satisfied and only stayed a little while longer. I was tired and the rain was starting to really soak through my clothes.

So all in all I had a pretty good day.

Here are some pics.

1st- what it looked like when I arrived.

2nd- my truck "The Fossil Mobile"

3rd- Dipluera in-situ

[Darktooth]

4th- Dipluera after I got home. It measures approximately 3 inches or 7.62 cm. Has mud and dirt on it, but I won't clean it until it dries. Water is not your friend when it comes to fossils from this site.

5- Greenops

6- pygidium is gone but I think it is Eldredgeops?

Edited December 3, 2023 by Darktooth

[Darktooth]

I don't remember if I showed this last week but the bushes and shrubs have all been removed away from the first level. I assume by the owner but either way makes easier access to that area.

[Darktooth]

Next pic is of a teeny tiny Dipluera negative I didn't notice till I got home. Also the rest of the finds.

[Ludwigia]

[Newbie_1971]

Looks Like you had a great day! Congrats!

[Isotelus2883]

I think 6 is in fact Greenops.

[Darktooth]

39 minutes ago, Isotelus2883 said:

I think 6 is in fact Greenops.

It probably is as it came from a layer that is predominantly Greenops. I have a hard time distinguishing them when the cephalon and pygidium are not there.

[Fossildude19]

Great finds, Dave!

That last Goniophora?  is a great find!

Thanks for posting.
I've been sick all weekend, and this helps. 

 

And this guy is just the cutest thing ever.

 

[Kane]

Good finds, Dave. Many of us up here have put away our tools but it is awesome to see you in action!

[Fossildude19]

That Greenops is going to look nice when prepped out!

[Darktooth]

1 minute ago, Fossildude19 said:

Great finds, Dave!

That last Goniophora?  is a great find!

Thanks for posting.
I've been sick all weekend, and this helps. 

Hey Tim that last one I wasn't sure on and have not had time to look at my field guide. I wanted to ask you something. Awhile back you gave me the designated me Dipluera Whisperer in my profile ( which I love by the way).

But it disappeared with the migration. Could you please add it back to the profile?

[Fossildude19]

Just now, Darktooth said:

Hey Tim that last one I wasn't sure on and have not had time to look at my field guide. I wanted to ask you something. Awhile back you gave me the designated me Dipluera Whisperer in my profile ( which I love by the way).

But it disappeared with the migration. Could you please add it back to the profile?

It's not viewable field any longer, ... Unfortunately.
But give me a minute or two ...

[Darktooth]

2 minutes ago, Kane said:

Good finds, Dave. Many of us up here have put away our tools but it is awesome to see you in action!

Not the 6 inch prone you asked for, but it will do!

And I am not done yet!

I am going to try again over New Years weekend, weather permitting.

[Darktooth]

1 minute ago, Fossildude19 said:

It's not viewable field any longer, ... Unfortunately.
But give me a minute or two ...

[Darktooth]

7 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

That Greenops is going to look nice when prepped out!

I was thinking the same thing! Sorry to hear you been sick, hope you feel better soon Buddy!

Edited December 3, 2023 by Darktooth

[Kane]

I'll be swimming with sea turtles in a week near the equator in Curaçao for Deb's 60th. Find a complete Dipleura for her before I threaten to take her to Grenada in February. Get it done!  

[Fossildude19]

15 minutes ago, Darktooth said:

 

But it disappeared with the migration. Could you please add it back to the profile?

 

Dave,

Let me know if you want your new bling customized - I can make it any colors or whatever. 

[Darktooth]

22 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

 

Dave,

Let me know if you want your new bling customized - I can make it any colors or whatever. 

Ooooohhh! Thank you so much! Tim you're the best! I love it!

Edited December 4, 2023 by Darktooth

[Pagurus]

Thanks for taking us along on your hunt, Dave, at least vicariously. I'm happy you did so well.

[Darktooth]

Just now, Pagurus said:

Thanks for taking us along on your hunt, Dave, at least vicariously. I'm happy you did so well.

Thanks Mike, I hope you can make it back out this way some time. It's been awhile!

[patelinho7]

Glad to hear you’re feeling better and having luck out there! Fun report, always nice to see people having success while I’m stuck inside during these cooler months.

[Sjfriend]

Great trip! Very nice trilobites. I've only had 1 chance to hunt there and it's a fun site!

[Darktooth]

36 minutes ago, Sjfriend said:

Great trip! Very nice trilobites. I've only had 1 chance to hunt there and it's a fun site!

Let me know if you ever make it back this way. 

[Darktooth]

I finally got around to cleaning up the Dipluera today. All I used was a toothbrush to get the mud off. There is a little damage, mainly on the right side but I am still happy with it. The tip of the Cephalon it under some matrix, I am debating on trying to prep it, or leave it. I really don't want to risk damaging it further.