fengw03 Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Inspired by some of the wonderful Waldron fossil posts on TFF, I finally decided to plan my own fossil hunting trip. Since most of the quarries are not open to private collectors, after long search on the internet, I found the nearest Waldron site to my home is the creek at Anderson Fall, Columbus, Indiana. Last Sunday, my wife and I finally made the trip. The weather was very nice, and the water level was low with the blueish shale exposed along the banks. (Sorry, I didn't take any in situ pictures.) It seems the site was under water in rainy seasons, so there are a lot of fossils weathering out. Here are some of the fossil we found in 2 hours. My most exciting find is this enrolled Calymene breviceps with its pygidium slightly disarticulated. As you can see, it's not in the perfect condition, however, it is my first complete trilobe! I have bought many other trilobites in the past, but finding one by my own is an completely different experience. We also found many different crinoid calyx. Eucalyptocrinus crassus is the index fossil of Waldron Shale. Then, there were less common ones. I tried my best to ID them by looking through some online sources. I believe I found an Eucalyptocrinites elrodi and a Lyriocrinus melissa. We also found some Platystoma, Favosite coral balls and lots of Brachiopods. At the end of our hunting, I picked up this rock in the water. To my surprise, there was a large horn coral on it. I am not sure it is also from Waldron Shale, since it could be carried down from other stratum and the rock looks nothing like my other fossils. It is believed that the limestone above the falls along the creek belongs to the Devonian Age, and that the limestone foming the crest of the falls belongs to the Silurian Age. But they seem to be non-fossiliferous. So it is still a mystery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolmt Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Congratulations on your first complete trilo, It is a a shame that the quarries down there do not allow collecting. I would love the opporunity to find some Waldron Trilos.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squalicorax Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 OOO I love waldron material. Your 4th picture is a Maurotarion cephalon. Congrats. My Flickr Page of My Collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/79424101@N00/sets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Looks like a fun and productive trip/site. Big congrats on your first trilo! Caleb Midwestpaleo.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Very nice, I like the trilobites a lot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fengw03 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thank you, guys. Hope next time I will bring back more trilobites! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fengw03 Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 That's a great news for me. And your St Paul quarry report was amazing, which promoted me for this trip. Thanks! OOO I love waldron material. Your 4th picture is a Maurotarion cephalon. Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piranha Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Congrats Wei Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astron Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Thank you, guys. Hope next time I will bring back more trilobites! I wish to. Very nice finds Congrats Astrinos P. Damianakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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