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New York Eurypterids


Darktooth

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Hello, fossil fanatics! It has been awhile since I have done a trip report.

This past Summer was extremely hot and busy for me. Due to this I haven't gotten out much until a couple weeks ago. 

 

On August 24, my friend @Buffalopterus and I decided to go on a hunt.

We started off at a site which had no shade, but full sun. We roasted to nearly being overcome with heat exhaustion. Because of this, and not having much luck in finding anything, we decided to take a break and rethink our plan.

 

I would like to mention that @Buffalopterus (Stephen) had suffered heat exhaustion a few weeks prior while out hunting. An ambulance had to be called and he went to the hospital. Just a cautionary tale, as a reminder of things that can happen in the field.

 

After getting lunch and sitting in the air conditioning of my truck we formulated a new plan to go to a different site for Devonian fossils where we may get some shaded area if we needed it.

 

As we were on our way, we came to an intersection which Stephen recognized was only about a mile and a half from a Eurypterid site so we decided to go there instead.

 

We were both still hot and weak but the lure of fossils was strong. When we got there we found a spot that looked promising and I was able to removed a couple slabs. I was shocked when I flipped one over and saw the outline of my first Eurypterid!

 

Unfortunately the preservation is not the greatest as the Eurypterid was in a ud filled crack. The positive side has a crusty coating which the Eurypterid blends in with and is hard to see. The negative was also in the mud  but did not have the crusty coating on it. Unfortunately when I tried to remove it it broke it half and one side broke into a bunch of pieces. It is really a shame as the positive half shows the appendages but the preservation is just bad.

 

Anyways I was still excited and dug some more after another couple slabs came another Eurypterid in the crusty layer.

This had the head and body, but yet again the preservation horrible.

 

The Eurypterid itself crumbled apart by the time I got home and left me with just the negative.

Stephen and I were both excited to find those despite the condition, but we were exhausted and decided to call it quits but we knew we were on to something good and knew we had to get back there A.S.A.P.

 

To be continued.................:popcorn:

I apologize but these do not photograph well.:shakehead:

 

 

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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After getting home I decided to contact

@Fossildude19 and @Jeffrey P.

I had already been in contact to see if they would like to meet up September 7th to dig the Devonian site but asked if they would like to hunt for Eurypterids instead. They agreed, but we went on September 8th instead due to weather forecast. On the 8th I arrived around 7:30 pm followed by @Buffalopterus then @Fossildude19 and @Jeffrey P.

 

When I first got there I spent some time clearing rubble out of the area we wanted to dig. I immediately found a body with telson. Also found various body parts sporadically during the duration.at first going was slow until Stephen found 2 Eurypterids right next to each other. That got us excited and Tim helped him try to extract it by using his trim saw. We all tried to give advice on how to remove it without breaking it until he was successful. Shortly after he found a third one but was only successful in removing half of it intact. 

Finally after moving around to different spots I settled in to try to remove some fresh matrix. I broke off a roughly 2 foot long by 1 and a half foot wide slab. When I flipped it over I noticed a small crack. I drove my chisel in and popped off about a 3/8 inch thick piece of matrix in my hand. When I turned it over to look at it I was exhilarated to see a beautiful negative of a Eurypterid! Then I looked down and saw the positive side on the slab! I couldn't believe it. Tim came over and took a couple in field photos and offered to trim the slab down. At this point we knew we were in a good layer. After removing a bunch of dirt and debris we spent a considerable about of time and energy to move some huge slabs in hopes of finding more.

I was truly hoping that we would all be successful. I did see more body parts but that was about it. We all knew that there are probably more specimens in the matrix but fresh material does not split very easy. It tends to break in conchiodial fractures. At this point Tim and Jeff decided they were getting tiered and wanted to try the Devonian site before they headed back home.  Stephen and I were also tired and hungry so we took a break from lunch and didn't stay much longer.

 

I can say that I left very satisfied. I found my first very nice Eurypterid specimen. Also I got to hunt with good friends.

Stephen, Jeff and Tim, you guys are great! I always enjoy being in your company. You all also have alot of knowledge, which you gladly share.

 

On a side note for awhile now I have felt that I have been in a slump with my hunting. Always going to the same places, finding the same things. I not trying to complain, but I think I have been a bit bored. This recent find has rejuvenated me in a big way.

Eurypterids are all I could think about this past week.

Last night after I got out of work, I drove to the site, and filled up my truck as much as I dared with the slabs we removed last week. My plan is to leave them out to weather as long as possible before I try to split them.

When I finally do split them I will update you on my findings

 

Hope you enjoyed! 

Next I have pics of my and Stephen's finds.

Also would like to add, I realize some of you already know, but for those that don't, I entered this in the September Invertebrate Fossil of the Month contest.

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Edited by Darktooth
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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Here is Stephen's,

IMG_20240914_141843.jpg

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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I thought I would add a pic of the first one I found while wet. You can see the appendages on the head much better while water is on it. Also the other one which is mostly just an imprint found close by.

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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I would like to add that Darktooth's description of our fossil collecting trip is exactly accurate. Moreover, once I prep the two side by side eurypterids I am hoping that the head (prosoma) will be revealed in the upper specimen.

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31 minutes ago, Buffalopterus said:

I would like to add that Darktooth's description of our fossil collecting trip is exactly accurate. Moreover, once I prep the two side by side eurypterids I am hoping that the head (prosoma) will be revealed in the upper specimen.

I am keeping my fingers crossed on the prep!:fingerscrossed:

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Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg          MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png   IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Congrats Dave. Great find!!

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Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt
behind the trailer, my desert
Them red clay piles are heaven on earth
I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt

Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers

 

image.png.0c956e87cee523facebb6947cb34e842.png May 2016  MOTM.png.61350469b02f439fd4d5d77c2c69da85.png.a47e14d65deb3f8b242019b3a81d8160.png.b42a25e3438348310ba19ce6852f50c1.png May 2012 IPFOTM5.png.fb4f2a268e315c58c5980ed865b39e1f.png.1721b8912c45105152ac70b0ae8303c3.png.2b6263683ee32421d97e7fa481bd418a.pngAug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 VFOTM.png.f1b09c78bf88298b009b0da14ef44cf0.png.af5065d0585e85f4accd8b291bf0cc2e.png.72a83362710033c9bdc8510be7454b66.png.9171036128e7f95de57b6a0f03c491da.png Oct 2022

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Thank-you Don!

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Huzzah, Capt. Darktooth!!!  A find worthy of a pirate's treasure! Jealous, me be.

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Start the day with a smile and get it over with.

 

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21 hours ago, Pagurus said:

Huzzah, Capt. Darktooth!!!  A find worthy of a pirate's treasure! Jealous, me be.

Aaarrrrrr, ye be tellin, tha truth thar Mikey!

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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That's some pretty spectacular finds! Congratulations! 

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7 hours ago, Bjohn170 said:

Amazing finds Dave! Congratulations, truly spectacular!

Thank-you Bryce, good to see you back on the forum! 

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I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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Great specimen, Dave. I was excited to be there when you found it. Big congratulations.

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On 9/21/2024 at 4:38 PM, Darktooth said:

Thank-you Bryce, good to see you back on the forum! 

I tend to get busy with work over summer and don’t get out as much and check the forum less frequently. But I’m planning to get back at it soon so hopefully I’ll have some trip reports soon. 
Plus me and Amy just got our scuba certification so some new types of trip reports are on the horizon!

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