Autumn trip to the Volga site and beyond

[RuMert]

Hi all!

This time I'd like to inform you on a short, but diverse trip to several Volga river locations. The finds were not too impressive unlike the weather, endless fields and various outcrops.

First I went to the southern part of Ulyavovsk Volgian shore:

(These are Hauterivian concretions. They are roundish in form)

These are Volgian

 

Volgian boulders

Beige rocks are Volgian, overlaying black clay is Hauterivian. Volgian section ends nearby (to the left) as the corresponding rocky layers gradually go underground

Edited December 6, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Not that good, but a couple of nice specimens nevertheless. Craspedites and Epivirgatites spp.

Craspedites okensis, a very widespread species in Upper Volgian, a macroconch

Edited December 5, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Northern outcrops, where I was pleasantly surprised with the number of Crussoliceras fauna finds (Kimmeridgian) and some Volgian virgatites ammos:

Aspidoceras sp.

 

Crussoliceras spp.

 

Crussoliceras spp.

Amoebites sp.

Taramelliceras sp.

Amoebites sp.

 

Virgatites virgatus

Same, 30+ cm

Edited December 6, 2023 by RuMert

[Ludwigia]

Nice finds! Amazing! We have more snow here in southern Germany right now than you do there.

[RuMert]

I always wanted to explore more northern areas and find where the fossiliferous shore actually ends. So I continued north into the Tatatstan part of the shore, Lots of weird concretions, empty rocks, sometimes red clay and some interesting finds. The cliffs are mostly Kimmerigian, some are Bathonian - Callovian with very few specimens of a poor preservation

 

 

 

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Aulacostephanoides spp.

 

 

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Taramelliceras, Amoebites and a pliosaur humerus part (Kimmeridgian):

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

8 minutes ago, Ludwigia said:

Nice finds! Amazing! We have more snow here in southern Germany right now than you do there.

Thanks! This was a month ago, now we are drowning in snow too

[Mark Kmiecik]

Did you find any shells? 

[jpc]

Thanks for taking us along.  Looks like a very successful outing. 

 

[trilobites_are_awesome]

Great finds!

 

[RuMert]

Good finds end here as I found out the shore became mostly Permian, typical of the region. Red clay, ham-like cliffs,  enormous fields, which I sometimes had to cross under heavy rain or after sunset reminded me of the agrarian ages with their slow pace and endless distances, There were some belemnites from other layers mixed to the pebbles, but the shore gives the impression of being very poor fossil-wise.  At the same time there are lots of picturesque views and unusual landscapes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by RuMert

[Darktooth]

Your idea of "not that good" and mine are very different. 

Looks like great finds too me.

[RuMert]

I stayed in the local town Tetyushi (10k population), which turned out surprisingly nice and tidy, having a museum with a good Volgian ammo (70cm) and an ichthyosaur skeleton, then went to the regional capital Kazan, which has a good natural history museum, with not only marine reptiles but  also a few dinosaur bones, found in the same marine outcrops, I came back home with more impressions than imprints and more findings than fossil finds

 

 

 

Most likely Taimyrosphinctes sp. megaconch with Epivirgatites bipliciformis in the BC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 5, 2023 by RuMert

[RuMert]

Thanks for reading!

[FossilNerd]

I always enjoy your hunting trip reports@RuMert. Thanks for taking me along. Wonderful finds as well!  

[Coco]

Some of your ammonites are really beautiful !

 

Coco

[SPrice]

The scenery and fossils are amazing and the bonus turquoise and white VW Bus and the kid with black, high top, Chuck Taylor, Converse sneakers, Awesome!

[Neanderthal Shaman]

Amazing finds, as always!

[RuMert]

Thanks everybody I did some editing and added a bit of scientific info (genera etc) so that the story took full shape

[Fossildude19]

Rumert,

 

Thanks for taking the time to post these wonderful reports!

I  (and many others, I'm sure) truly enjoy seeing your wonderful finds, and beautiful scenery of your country. 

[Shellseeker]

You have many talents, one is photography.  Thank you for sharing your world. I can only see it thru your eyes.. 

[RuMert]

51 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

I  (and many others, I'm sure) truly enjoy seeing your wonderful finds, and beautiful scenery of your country

Thank you for the kind words! The scenery is unknown even to locals, villages are mostly 5-10 km from the shore, poorly connected. And they have other things to do, especially in autumn. The shore is only frequented by few fishermen and rare hikers. What you see here is rarely seen by anyone

[RuMert]

5 minutes ago, Shellseeker said:

You have many talents, one is photography.  Thank you for sharing your world. I can only see it thru your eyes..

Thank you, trying to catch the elusive beauty Same with the Peace river, it's always interesting to read your reports