Fossilhunting a New Jersey Monsoon

[Darktooth]

Yesterday was a day to remember! Unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. My youngest Son, once again had a band competition in Tom's River N.J. As it has become sort of a tradition now that whenever he has a competition in N.J., my wife and I drive down early so I can hit up the Cretaceous streams before his school is scheduled to perform.

I started watching the forecast last week, and it did not look good, as it called for rain. Being the hard-core fossilhunter that I am, I figured that unless it was hurricane squalls I would be doing some hunting.

Well I woke up around 5am, to several inches of snow at my house. That wouldn't have been bad, but the roads hadn't been plowed yet. The first hour and a half were a slippery, slushy mess. Several vehicles were in the ditch along route 81 through the hills and mountains. Eventually the snow turned to rain which was very heavy for the next 3 and a half hour or so. I knew at this point the streams were going to be over flowing. But I also knew that I was stubborn and would still try regardless so for the rest of the ride I tried to come up with a plan. We Eventually got to the stream and my wife dropped me off to do some shopping. Of course she thought I was crazy and asked if I was sure I wanted to do it. I told her yes. As I walked to the stream I was passing by one of the small feeder creeks and I could here the water trickling through. I got close enough to look over the bank and I could see some areas with exogyra oyster fragments and gravel lying in and around the waters edge. I figured if the main stream was to high ( which I knew it was) I would try this creek and make the best of it.

I walk to the main stream and sure enough, it was flowing high muddy water. I walked upstream a bit trying to see if the was anywhere that I could possibly dig. I only was wearing rubber boots that didn't even go up to my knees. I knew I would get water in them and I did. I actually found a spot to dig a couple scoops of gravel and got a couple broken Sharkteeth first try. That got my hopes up, but was very short lived. After that I had a tough time trying to get a shovel full of gravel and not mud and debris. Plus the current was so strong it would blow most of the material off the shovel. 

Atleast I gave it a shot. But I didn't want to waste any more time so I decided to go to the feeder creek. As I got to the top of the bank, I fell on my side and slid down. I didn't get hurt, only muddy. I immediately started looking around and there was alot of the exogyras I spotted earlier as was as belemnite pieces everywhere. I had been told that this is pretty much all one would find in this creek, but I figured it would be better then nothing and who knows, maybe I would get lucky and find a nice surprise. I began surface scanning and found myself picking up every belemnite piece I saw. Then I turned it into a game, let's see how many I can come home with. I actually found a few complete or nearly complete ones with both tip and phragmacone. Surprisingly these were very small ones. I kept my eye out for any worthy Exogyras but unfortunately everything was very worn and broken.

Eventually I started sifting and was very surprised to see a very nice sharktooth in my screen first try! This looked very pristine for a stream find. Unfortunately part of the root was broken off. Then in this one area I started finding these small Brachiopods which had both halves. They where pretty neat. Also found was what I believe are some sort of worm tube and some other mystery item that gives me a crab vibe. 

So I stayed out there a little over 2 hours. My wife picked me up and had stopped at Panera and got me a sandwich. I was completely soaked to the bone. So I changed into dry clothes, ate my sandwich and went to watch my Son perform at the competition. At some point the rain stopped at the sun came out for a bit on the ride home. 

I know that all of the New Jersey fossilhunters are going to find some good stuff after the waters settles. I wish you all good luck and expect to see some good trip reports! I am tempted to take tomorrow off from work to go back down!

 Anyways this is what I found......

Edited March 25 by Darktooth
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[Notidanodon]

great finds!

[Tidgy's Dad]

Not a total washout at all.

You found some really nice brachiopods for goodness sake.

And the belemnites are good too.

 

[Darktooth]

40 minutes ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Not a total washout at all.

You found some really nice brachiopods for goodness sake.

And the belemnites are good too.

 

Thanks Adam! I have learned to appreciate brachs, bivalves, and gastros more and more over the years. I realized that what ever time period you collect from, it is important to includes as many different lifeforms from that period as possible. And you know what? Those little brachs are kinda cute!

[Fossildude19]

Great finds, Dave!

You definitely are hardcore! 

[Darktooth]

4 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said:

Great finds, Dave!

You definitely are hardcore! 

Thanks Tim! I can't let a Monsoon foil my plans!

[Fossildude19]

You crack me up, brother. 

[Newbie_1971]

Looking good man!

[Jeffrey P]

Hi Dave. Looks like you hit a spot that was primarily Navesink Formation material which has abundant oysters, belemnites, and the brachiopod, Choristothyris plicata. of which you found my fine examples That may explain the dearth of vertebrate remains which unlike the Wenonah, tend to be uncommon in the Navesink. Those crustacean parts are cool too. Congratulations on your opportunistic finds collecting in very challenging conditions. Have a good one. 

[Masonk]

Looks like an awesome trip! Belemnites galore!

 

Love all of the Brachiopods, too.