WBspectrum Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Last full week of school vacation I decided to pack up the kids, wife, hammers, chisels and goggles and head west (to about Herkimer, NY). First stop was Little Falls, I had never been there and did some research here and other places before deciding on the place. I was a little concerned about my gaggle exiting the van and searching the river, but I made sure where we stopped was not privately owned. Family said "What are we looking for" in about 3 minutes I showed them a trilobite and said "this and anything else that looks "odd". Didn't take long and they were all bringing me "trilobits", alas no complete specimens. While this may sound rather dull to you, for me it was THE BEST. I have always loved fossils, and my all time favorite are the trilobites. Growing up were I did (Massachusetts) I never had a chance of finding my own, the only way I could get them was saving my paper route money and ordering the from "Wards Scientific" a catalog my 5 grade teacher had given me. While I was camping at a KOA around Herkimer I enter a conversation with a guy regarding rocks and such. He was there looking for Herk diamonds with his girls but what he really wanted was a fossil. Gave him direction to where I was the day earlier and later that week he came up to me with a fossil his daughter had found. 5 complete trilobites on a slab from Little Falls. I was elated for them, but just a wee bit jealous Family had a blast, want to know when we can go again. Already eyeing Penn-Dixie for the spring but have half a mind to jump in the truck some weekend soon and make the 4 hour trip to Little Falls, kids and whoever else wants to go in tow. Anybody in New England who would like a trip, let me know 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Nice report, WBSpectrum. Any pics of your finds? Were you able to travel the road to the 3rd bridge? It was totally blocked by construction when we were there in July. 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...
WBspectrum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) I'll add some pics tomorrow, and yes I could drive one end to the other. I wanna go back, only hunted for maybe 2 hours total Edited August 29, 2013 by WBspectrum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Congrats on a good first trip. Even though you didn't find a complete trilo, I promise you were close to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vertman Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Nice report and sounds like a great family time. Enjoy those times. The little ones grow up way too quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 I'm glad everyone had such a fine time "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...
Blastoid Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Thanks for the report, those are nifty trilos. Been up there for the world-class quartz a couple of times, now I have another target! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CousinLarry Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) I have been there once! Went diamond hunting and also visited Little Falls. I found a few good herk diamonds, and I found a bunch of trilobite heads, but no full bodies! I'm curious to see what the full ones look like!! I also found a bunch of graptolites, and one cepholapod of some sort. Had a great time and wifey keeps saying we need to go back.. Now I have a daughter who's almost 2, I think she would have fun. Maybe next summer. Edited August 29, 2013 by CousinLarry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) nice trilobites, and report, I can't wait to go back myself... Edited August 29, 2013 by xonenine "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WBspectrum Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 nice trilobites, and report, I can't wait to go back myself... I cant wait to get out your way, I'm in Buffalo a few times a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squali Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Thanks for the report. It is beautiful country, and I miss it having spent 5 months off road up there last year. It seems every Creek has something to offer It's hard to remember why you drained the swamp when your surrounded by alligators. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJon Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Trilobites. Yup yup!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted August 31, 2013 Share Posted August 31, 2013 Sounds like you had a good introduction to this site. I was there last Sunday and, yes, the road is now open. Also, the stream was down which exposes a lot more rock. That's key to having success there. Last Sunday I found a couple small complete Triarthrus becki and a few bodies missing cephalons. Anyone who's been there knows that cephalons are plentiful. I'm still looking for a large complete one or multiple slab. I know there's one waiting. If you are interested in hunting for trilobites, this is definately a place to go. Also, worth mentioning, I found a couple of nice cephalopods too. On a previous trip I found the impression of a coiled gastropod. Has anybody else found a gastropod there? The shale is usually easy to split. Even the kids can do it. That and the lovely scenery and wading possibilities makes this a great place to bring kids. I plan to bring my daughter the next time I go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 ...Also, worth mentioning, I found a couple of nice cephalopods too. On a previous trip I found the impression of a coiled gastropod. Has anybody else found a gastropod there?... Hey Jeffrey, We had a forum trip out there in July - I found a few gastropods, or coiled cephalopods - not exactly sure which, but I found quite a few. Check the report out HERE. 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...
Darbit Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I went to the Little Falls site today, found a quarter-size almost whole trilobit, dozens more fractions. I also pried up about four big slabs of rock and put in the car whole; I can open those up over the winter. It was an awesome day! (Even though I probably got really bad gas mileage on the way home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted September 7, 2013 Share Posted September 7, 2013 I went to the Little Falls site today, found a quarter-size almost whole trilobit, dozens more fractions. I also pried up about four big slabs of rock and put in the car whole; I can open those up over the winter. It was an awesome day! (Even though I probably got really bad gas mileage on the way home Pictures! ... We need Pictures!!! 'specially of the complete trilo! Glad you had a good time today, and that you found some nice things. 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...
WBspectrum Posted September 8, 2013 Author Share Posted September 8, 2013 I went to the Little Falls site today, found a quarter-size almost whole trilobit, dozens more fractions. I also pried up about four big slabs of rock and put in the car whole; I can open those up over the winter. It was an awesome day! (Even though I probably got really bad gas mileage on the way home Glad you made it out there, now for the pics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darbit Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 Little Falls site. I wonder if there had been significant flooding at the site earlier this summer, as there was evidence, right after the third bridge, of recent bulldozing along the road. I parked in a newly bulldozed shoulder right by the bridge. There are more wide spots in the road further up, with areas of teen partying (lots of red solo cups in the underbrush . I think the best area was just west of the third bridge. Also, I need some advice on tools and techniques for further splitting of this layered rock. My inelegant technique involves a flat screwdriver driven by my rock hammer, and, for larger jobs, a wedge tool from the demolition tool section at the big box store. (this is my first post with pictures, hope it works) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xonenine Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 (edited) it had flooded badly, the underside of the first bridge was still full of debris, the guardrail was gone, and the road was under construction. A thinner wider blade seems to split this stuff better than chisels, more putty knife like tools are sometimes an advantage, or thin wide pry bar blades. Edited September 8, 2013 by xonenine "Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile." Lepidus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scylla Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 and use multiple tools along the crack so the whole layer splits without shattering. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WBspectrum Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 Well, lucky for me my kids really enjoyed the hunt I took them on so I'm bringing them again this Sunday (along with a friend of mine who is interested) Hoping that at least one of my kids follows in my footsteps going forward Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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