2024 Spring/Summer Fossil Hunting - Monmouth County, NJ

[Masonk]

Hi All,

I previously had a thread running with all of my Winter finds in Monmouth Co., NJ. It's one of the more common areas I go to hunt, so thought I would start a Spring/Summer thread.

 

My last hunt was on 4/27. Myself and another collector I've been speaking with on Instagram decided to check out a Cretaceous spot we've both been to seperately.

 

Before heading there, I went out early and visited another Cretaceous spot, Big Brook. Haven't been here since last September.

 

Had a good hunt, which included a nicely preserved Belemnite, a couple Gastropod Steinkerns and a decent sized A. kopingensis tooth.

 

 

Belemintella americana

 

 

Gastropod Steinkern

 

 

 

Archaeolamna kopingensis 

 

 

Squalicorax kaupi

 

 

Mystery Fossil Bone Fragment

 

[Masonk]

The next stop was also Cretaceous, and one of my favorites to hunt.

 

Found an awesome piece of Devonian Favosites coral and a small chunk of Enchodus jaw.

 

 

Favosites (Devonian - Glacial Erratic)

 

 

Bivalve Steinkern

 

 

Gastropod Steinkern

 

 

Enchodus sp. - Jawbone Fragment

 

 

 

 

 

[Masonk]

My Instagram buddy and I then decided to check out an Eocene/Miocene spot to finish the day. Tough hunt as always, but we both walked away with a few goodies. Highlight for me was a nice sized Sand Tiger Shark tooth,

 

 

Carcharias sp.

 

 

 

[Masonk]

Thanks for looking!

[Tidgy's Dad]

Nice finds!

Thanks for sharing.

[Bjohn170]

Great finds and photography as always!

[Masonk]

5 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Nice finds!

Thanks for sharing.

 

3 hours ago, Bjohn170 said:

Great finds and photography as always!

Thank you both! Much appreciate!

[Masonk]

I spent most of May focusing on fossil locations in Pennsylvania, however finally made it back to New Jersey this past Saturday. This time I hit up an Eocene/Miocene location in Monmouth Co.

 

Had a pretty good trip. Mostly Sand Tiger teeth (Carcharias sp.). Highlights were my first Isurus desori tooth and an uncommon Xiphodolamia ensis tooth.

 

Group Shot

 

Isurus desori - 35mm

 

 

Xiphodolamia ensis

 

 

Physogaleus sp.

 

 

Negaprion sp.

 

 

Myliobatis sp.

 

 

Carcharias sp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lisam]

Good going @Masonk

[Masonk]

15 hours ago, lisam said:

Good going @Masonk

 

Thanks!

[BeachBadger]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

[Masonk]

Managed to make it out for a hunt yesterday to one of my Cretaceous spots. Nothing earth-shattering. Did manage to find a couple glacial erratic pieces from the Devonian. 

 

Group Shot/Scale

 

 

Glacial Erratics - Crinoids, Bivalves and/or Brachiopods and Bryozoan

 

 

 

Internal mold  of a Ghost Shrimp Burrow - Protocallianassa mortoni 

 

 

Gastropod Steinkern

 

 

Pycnodont Crusher - Anomoeodus phaseolus

 

 

Enchodus sp. 

 

 

 

Saw Ray Rostral Tooth - Ischyrhiza mira

 

 

Squalicorax sp. - Crow Shark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scapanorhynchus texanus - Goblin Shark

 

 

 

Archaeolamna kopingensis - Mackerel Shark

 

 

 

Cretolamna appendiculata

 

 

Partial Shark Tooth in Matrix - Scapanorhynchus texanus?

 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

Edited June 11 by Masonk

[Vae70]

Cool stuff! One day i'll have to leave my comfortable cretaceous spots in monmouth co to check out those miocene/eocene locale chasing a nice ric or chub. One can dream haha

[Masonk]

3 hours ago, Vae70 said:

Cool stuff! One day i'll have to leave my comfortable cretaceous spots in monmouth co to check out those miocene/eocene locale chasing a nice ric or chub. One can dream haha

It’s a tough hunt in comparison! The areas have been heavily picked over. But, it’s a nice break from the Cretaceous. 

[Vae70]

14 hours ago, Masonk said:

It’s a tough hunt in comparison! The areas have been heavily picked over. But, it’s a nice break from the Cretaceous. 

Yes! I've found some good references from the 1980s on lesser traveled creeks but exploring them is certainly risky given a lot has changed in 40+ years and private property can get dicey up in NJ. It is on my list to head up and see what I can come up with though

[Masonk]

On 6/12/2024 at 9:35 AM, Vae70 said:

Yes! I've found some good references from the 1980s on lesser traveled creeks but exploring them is certainly risky given a lot has changed in 40+ years and private property can get dicey up in NJ. It is on my list to head up and see what I can come up with though

 

I'm hoping to check out a new Eocene/Miocene location tomorrow. I feel like there is a lot of NJ left to explore. 

[Masonk]

Visited a new Eocene/Miocene location in NJ. Did OK for my first time at the site. 

 

Highlights are a nice chunk of Devonian Favosites coral and a piece of tessellated cartilage from a chondrichthyan. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Masonk]

I managed to make it out to NJ twice last week, once to my favorite Cretaceous spot and a second trip to a new Eocene/Miocene site.

 

Found my first Mosasaur vertebra at the Cretaceous spot and my first NJ Hemipristis serra tooth as well as a nicely worn O. chubutensis tooth from the Eocene/Miocene spot. 

 

First up my Cretaceous finds:

 

 

Mosasaur vertebra

 

 

Crustacean Claw (possibly Ghost Shrimp - Protocallianassa mortoni)

 

 

 

Myliobatis sp. - Crusher tooth

 

 

Enchodus - Jaw fragment and palatine fang

 

 

Squalicorax kaupia - Crown Shark

 

 

 

Scapanorhynchus texanus - Goblin  Shark

 

 

[Masonk]

Eocene/Miocene finds

 

 

O. chubutensis

 

 

Hemipristis serra

 

 

Carcharias sp.

 

 

Carcharhinus sp. - Requiem Shark

 

 

Negaprion sp.

 

[Masonk]

Finds from a recent Cretaceous hunt. Mixed in were a few Devonian erratics. 

 

Highlight is a partial root to a Mosasaur tooth. 

 

Thanks for looking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Collector9658]

Nice finds. I like the way you photograph the teeth. Thanks for sharing.

[Masonk]

5 hours ago, Collector9658 said:

Nice finds. I like the way you photograph the teeth. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks! Much appreciated.