Synechodus Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 I announced in my last trip report, that I had some more lined up, so here is another one. The location is a quarry where Late Cretaceous deposits are turned into cement. It called "ENCI" and is situated at the outskirts of Maastricht, close the border with Belgium. Close observers will already have guessed the age of those deposits and yes, they are of Maastrichtian origin (what a surprise). In this particular quarry almost the complete Maastrichtian is accessible. As a matter of fact: holds the official stratotype for this period. My main aim for this trip, in which also my son Maarten and my "fossil mate" Gerrit-Jan took part, were not the relatively big(ger) echs like Hemipneustes, Catopygus, Faujasia and the likes, but the smaller ones like Procassidulus, Nucleopygus, Hemiaster, Salenia, Orthopsis and Gauthieria, some of which were still lacking in my collection (note the willful use of the past tence ). I leave it up to the pictures to tell the rest of the story..... Gathering in the parking lot. A Motley Crew, eager as always to start hunting. Let's go! Junior with the yellow hard hat and I with the white one. Looking at the production facilities from within the quarry. This is where we would stay to collect all 3 .5 hours. Crawling around on all fours looking for tiny echinoids. My buddy Gerrit-Jan displaying another technique: belly crawling. even others joined in the fray.... and yet another "Cretaceous Crawler". To be continued in next post ........ "And the men who hold high places, Must be the ones to start To mould a new reality, Closer to the Heart" (Rush, "Closer to the Heart" from the album "A Farewell to Kings") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synechodus Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Continued from previous post.... Just for sizing: do you see the tiny Procassidulus lapiscancri? Macro-shot of the same specimen. Another Procassidulus lapiscancri. Macro shot of a Gauthieria pseudoradiata resting on top of a mini hoodoo that is only 1 cm high. The three rare regulars we found, from left to right: 1. Orthopsis miliaris (d'Archiac, 1835), found by my son Maarten 2. Salenia (Pleurosalenia) maestrichtensis Schlüter, 1892, found by my friend Gerrit-Jan 3. Gauthieria pseudoradiata (Schlüter, 1883), found by myself Junior showing off his Orthopsis milliaris: the first to be found in over a year. Way to go, junior! One of the "macro finds" of the day, made by another participant: a huge Nautilus. And afterwards: a nice BBQ Cheers, Paul "And the men who hold high places, Must be the ones to start To mould a new reality, Closer to the Heart" (Rush, "Closer to the Heart" from the album "A Farewell to Kings") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jax Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Look like a nice hunt Paul! I like my echi's a little bigger! Easier on the eyes and back when looking for them. Better watch out, that son of yours is gonna be finding everything before you get a chance to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Great post! Your trip reports are a model for others to follow. "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...
Synechodus Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Look like a nice hunt Paul! I like my echi's a little bigger! Easier on the eyes and back when looking for them. Better watch out, that son of yours is gonna be finding everything before you get a chance to. It was a nice hunt indeed. Last Saturday I was there again, so stay tuned for Part II.... One clue I can gibe away right now: I beat Junior again last Saturday both with respect to quantity and rarity, much to his dismay. "And the men who hold high places, Must be the ones to start To mould a new reality, Closer to the Heart" (Rush, "Closer to the Heart" from the album "A Farewell to Kings") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synechodus Posted September 8, 2009 Author Share Posted September 8, 2009 Great post! Your trip reports are a model for others to follow. Thanks for the compliment! Knowing how fond I am of reading other trip reports, I am just trying to make it so that you guys (and girls) almost feel like having been there yourselves. Shared fun is double the fun. Cheers, Paul "And the men who hold high places, Must be the ones to start To mould a new reality, Closer to the Heart" (Rush, "Closer to the Heart" from the album "A Farewell to Kings") Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobC Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Love the little echinoids!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
worthy 55 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Looks like you guys had a great time and a nice feed afterwards also. It's my bone!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roz Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Always enjoy your trips, great finds, and am liking the looks of that bbq! Welcome to the forum! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordpiney Posted September 9, 2009 Share Posted September 9, 2009 cool beans! i love seeing hunts in other countries. thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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