Phosphate Marl/pebble Conglomerate?

[Plantguy]

Hey Gang, I'm gonna show my ignorance about phosphate but what the heck, it wont be the first time or the last--I see a learning opportunity here....

As some of you may have noticed from some other fossil threads I've been looking for fossils in Manatee county recently. The areas are labeled as the Peace River formation and I have seen pieces of a conglomerate on the surface that had a greenish tint to it that struck me as really different as it also had small white pebbles included in the matrix amongst the sand sized particle matrix. Did some research/reading and am wondering, as I havent located any pictures, if this was what they call phosphate marl inclusions in a pebble conglomerate. Also, does phosphate weather with any green and orange coloration or is that a reflection of other impurities?

Can any of you Floridians confirm/point me in the right direction.

Thanks.

Regards, Chris

[Harry Pristis]

There is a mostly-nonfossiliferous Hawthorn FM clay which underlies the pebble phosphate layer. This clay is the basement of the secondary aquifer in the pebble/sand above. The drag-lines scrape the top of the older clay when removing the pebble phosphate and overburden, producing the chunks of clay scattered about. This clay for the most part is gunned in the gun-pits along with the phosphate, then transported by pipes as a slurry (along with a gazillion shark teeth and other fossils). The fossils don't survive very well . . . talk about a high-energy environment!!

[Plantguy]

There is a mostly-nonfossiliferous Hawthorn FM clay which underlies the pebble phosphate layer. This clay is the basement of the secondary aquifer in the pebble/sand above. The drag-lines scrape the top of the older clay when removing the pebble phosphate and overburden, producing the chunks of clay scattered about. This clay for the most part is gunned in the gun-pits along with the phosphate, then transported by pipes as a slurry (along with a gazillion shark teeth and other fossils). The fossils don't survive very well . . . talk about a high-energy environment!!

Thanks Harry, I'm starting to absorb some of this complex Florida geology that I was unintentionally ignoring in lieu of playing with plant fossils. Appreciate the details you've shared. I've seen the various phosphate diggings/pits from adjacent highways and heard about the operations from my son...I am hoping the next trip with the club in late October allows us to see more than just piles to search in....also been meaning to get over to see the Mulberry museum to learn something more there as well.

Regards, Chris

[Shellseeker]

 The fossils don't survive very well . . . talk about a high-energy environment!!  

How true..how true

Also Chris, Mulberry Museum is really good --- includes complete skeleton of a dudong!!!