Dean L Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 Hi everyone. I just joined ESCONI and am going on a fossil field trip to Braceville for mazon creek fossil hunting soon. Some of your mazon creek collections posted on the forum are really amazing. I think I know how to identify concretions and some general ways to figure out which ones are more likely to have a fossil but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks! Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 They will fill you in with that information onsite. What I recommend is to look at all the Mazon Creek fossil threads you can find on this forum to familiarize yourself with the shapes and colors of the nodules you'll be looking for. Generally, rusty-colored flattened potatoes in various sizes and shapes is what you want. You'll develop a good feel for the right stuff once you see a bunch firsthand. Also, most people attending know where to look, so don't stray far from the crowd. You'll see a lot of people working the SE corner of the hill. There's a reason for that. Good Luck, and show us pictures of what you've found. If you need help with how to open them or ID, just ask and we'll gladly help. 1 1 Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean L Posted August 20 Author Share Posted August 20 Thanks for the information Mark! I will try to look for concretions that look like what you described. I plan to try the freeze and thaw method with what I find. Hopefully I will find some good stuff to post photos of. Have a good day! Dean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
connorp Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 Ditto to everything Mark said. Also, there's a tradition that some of us will bring opened concretions from other sites to give away to new collectors. You'll come away from the trip with lots of unopened concretions from the hill and already opened fossils. It's always a good time. Bring something to dig with and plenty of water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yoda Posted August 21 Share Posted August 21 Hope you have a good trip. Looking forward to seeing your finds MotM August 2023 - Eclectic Collector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean L Posted August 22 Author Share Posted August 22 Thanks everybody for the info! The trip sounds like a good time and I’m really looking forward to it. I plan to post pictures once I get the concretions opened. Hopefully I will find something rare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Kmiecik Posted August 22 Share Posted August 22 2 hours ago, Dean L said: Hopefully I will find something rare! There's a better than average chance at that location. Mark. Fossil hunting is easy -- they don't run away when you shoot at them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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