DE&i Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I've been asked to help lead the fossil hunt at Kings dyke nature reserve in a couple of weeks time.I've never done anything like this before , feel quite honoured but also nervous any tips would be appreciated. Kind regards, Darren. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmoceras Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I am not surprised Darren, you are doing rather well in the Oxford Clay and have an array of knowledge of the formation. Make sure you keep everyone safe, and touch up on the common fossil names so if asked to ID something you will most likely be able to ID and expand on it. Best of luck! Regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrangellian Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Just one thing: Don't dive down in front of one of your group and eagerly grab a fossil that they were just about to find - this happened to me once! Bad form.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Dactyll Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Darren... Congratulations it will make the day even more enjoyable sharing your passion and knowledge... I hope it all goes well and plenty fossils are found... Cheers Steve... And Welcome if your a New Member... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike from North Queensland Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 It depends on if the group is experenced. If not First the mandatory safety speach. Define the area. Explain the diffrent fossil bearing layers in the area Bring extra tools that can assist in the hunt. Talk up anything they find. Perhaps bring along a couple of specimens from the area to give the group an idea of what to look for. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Well Done, Darren! I would also try to make a hand out explaining (briefly) what you are saying, as to info on the layers/formation, and also maybe a list of what can be expected to be found, with pics if possible. People find more when they know what to look for. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a few sentences on each point, and some pics of typical finds in the area. Best of luck - I'm sure you will do great! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 IPFOTM -- MAY - 2024 _________________________________________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redleaf101 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Hard hats if near cliffs, a MUST! Restriction of tools depending on age. Kids don't have the same level of common sense as adults and they mostly have periods of ADD, which have caused some problems in the past. Some kid could swing a rock pick wildly for fun and end up with a gash. First aid kit in a backpack. Cellphone if available. Beyond that, have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Don't forget to bring extra water because I can almost guarantee someone in your group will. "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." Upton Sinclair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear-dog Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Mike has put all in a row .All you need to add is have fun. Bear-dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CH4ShotCaller Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 I am not surprised Darren, you are doing rather well in the Oxford Clay and have an array of knowledge of the formation. Make sure you keep everyone safe, and touch up on the common fossil names so if asked to ID something you will most likely be able to ID and expand on it. Best of luck! Regards, I did something similar last year, knowing the names of the common specimens help.... I can still hear, "hey! what's this"?! "what the heck is this"? and "is this a dinosaur tooth"? Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. -Albert Einstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 All of the above, plus your well informed enthusiasm. Remember how cool it is for everyone to be out there finding fossils! "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobWill Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 If you prepare a handout you may include a stratigraphic column showing where your formation falls in the group for those that might want to know or could be encouraged to learn from that. Some trip leaders also collect of course but the best ones I've known focus more on helping newer collectors learn techniques suited to the site and only hunt when they're sure everybody is having some success. Try to keep your introductory speech short especially if you meet people at the site, there's nothing more frustrating than listening to someone blather on making bad jokes when you could be collecting, but do offer to answer questions beforehand or you'll find yourself answering the same one over and over. How many collectors do you expect and what material do you find in Oxford Clay? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Siphuncle Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Just one thing: Don't dive down in front of one of your group and eagerly grab a fossil that they were just about to find - this happened to me once! Bad form.. been on the wrong end of that one too many times myself (as if there's a "right" end?) i've run a few trips and have a couple suggestions. -be very clear about rendezvous place and time, and what time yall will be leaving without stragglers. -state clearly any actions that could jeopardize future trips for everyone....for instance in quarries there is often no digging or climbing of walls allowed yall have fun! Grüße, Daniel A. Wöhr aus Südtexas "To the motivated go the spoils." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Thanks to you all some great words of wisdom, everyone has touched on some valid points I feel a lot more positive now. I just knew if I asked the right question my itinerary would start to present itself in front of me as i hold my pen to paper. Being a quarryman now for the last 18years I’ve learnt a lot on the subject regarding Health and Safety so feel that’s in place. It’s also too great to no anyone wishing to take part has been informed the correct PPE must be worn , and being a trained first aider I’ll be stating that firstly to make the group aware of this if needed (hopefully not). There was some great ideas there on how to (briefly) explain the geology of the clay we shall be searching through particular as I know exactly where its coming from ( i.e. the layers)when the shovel driver takes it from the quarry to be laid out for us. And to show and tell what are the more common fossils we can expect to find ill also bring my Fossils from the Oxford Clay book just in case we find some of the not so common material. And finally (please let the weather hold out for us ) to have lots of fun. Kind Regards, Darren. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Darren... Just be yourself. No one has mentioned this yet... if someone asks a question you don't know the answer to, don't be afraid to say so. Rather than shower them with a load of snarge, say, "Hmmmm, great question. I don't know but I will try to look it up when I get a chance." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE&i Posted March 15, 2013 Author Share Posted March 15, 2013 Darren... Just be yourself. No one has mentioned this yet... if someone asks a question you don't know the answer to, don't be afraid to say so. Rather than shower them with a load of snarge, say, "Hmmmm, great question. I don't know but I will try to look it up when I get a chance." Thanks jpc Good call. Regards.....D&E&i The only certainty with fossil hunting is the uncertainty. https://lnk.bio/Darren.Withers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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