Noob from Somerset Ky

[kentucky_mike]

Just now getting into fossils with my 6 year old son. He is enthusiastic and excited, but finding I am surprised as to how much I am enjoying myself as well. I've always found fossils interesting but never really invested any time in learning more about them. Not many discoveries yet but still searching my area and looking online for information of locations in KY. Planning a trip to Tampa next week and hoping to check out Venice Beach or Peace River although I am reading that this is not a good time of the year for Peace River. Will try and upload a few pics of what we have found so far in a few days and i will have a few questions which sadly will have probably been asked before. Go easy on me.

[Randyw]

Welcome to the forum! The guys and gals here are pretty knowledgeable and friendly I’m sure they will be able to help you with just about anything you’re needing or wanting help with! And dont worry about asking questions that have been asked before. We are getting enough new people that some of them wouldn’t have seen the answer yet either! Remember the only dumb question is the one that wasn’t asked!

[Manticocerasman]

Welcome to the fossil forum. 

Glad to see you are enjoying it so much. 

We are happy to help you with all the questions you have

[FossilNerd]

Hello Mike and welcome! I live in the Elizabethtown area of Kentucky. Its about 2 hours away from Somerset, but that's not too far of a drive for some fossils! Maybe we can get together and hunt sometime. 

 

I have never hunted in Somerset, but according to the Kentucky Geological Survey you have Carboniferous age rock around there. Mainly Mississippian (Early Carboniferous).  You can find the interactive survey map here https://kgs.uky.edu/kgsmap/kgsgeoserver/viewer.asp#. You should be able to find plenty of ancient sea life fossils. Things like coral, brachiopods, bryozoans, etc. Sea life makes up the majority of fossils found in Kentucky. Road cuts are great places to hunt. Just stay away from major interstates. Anywhere that they frown on pedestrians and the like. It's not very safe to be looking down at the ground with a semi truck driving 80 miles an hour a couple of feet from you!

 

Another member that lives in Kentucky is @Herb . He is in the Louisville area and very knowledgeable. 

 

If I can be any help don't hesitate to ask, or post on the forum. A lot of good people here!

[Tidgy's Dad]

Hello, Mike, and a very warm welcome to TFF from Morocco! 

[Sagebrush Steve]

Welcome from Northern California!

[digit]

Welcome to the forum!

 

We're very tolerant of new members navigating the on ramp to knowledge--we were all there at one time. The world of fossils is deep and diverse and nobody is a specialist in every type of fossil (despite what they may think ). There is a lot of knowledge archived here already and even more stored in the collective consciousness of our membership. I'd like to say there are no stupid questions but experience has proven that false. Some members discover the forum when they are quite certain they've found a rare T-rex egg in their backyard (without fail these turn out to be concretions in the best cases and just rounded river rocks in the most egregious). Come here with an open mind and a desire to soak up knowledge and you won't be disappointed.

 

You've already got some potential leads for local hunting in Kentucky. Do a search for 'Kentucky' in the search box at the top of the page or investigate the Kentucky section of the regional subforums:

 

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/forum/107-kentucky/

 

You are correct in your understanding that the Peace River is now too high and fast with summer rains closing the fossil season till the autumn (or winter). We're now in fossil HIDING season instead of fossil HUNTING season. This link can be useful to keep an eye on the current river level--which is presently about 3 feet too high to get into the gravel beds in the river bottom.

 

http://www.canoeoutpost.com/peace/showpage.asp?page=waterlevel

 

Caspersen Beach in Venice is a fun place where fossils may be found in the tideline mixed in with the shell hash. Some folks bring a strainer and small shovel to sift through the shell hash. Snorkeling near the shore can be a means of finding the phosphate stained black shark teeth (and other fossils) which can be found in South Florida. If your son is 6 snorkeling might be a bit advanced for him at this time. There used to be a large pile of limestone material used for parking lot and paving fill up the Gulf Coast. I'm not sure if it is still there but I'll try to search for the link to the old topic explaining where it is.

 

In addition to splaying around in the water, if you enjoy seeing birds you should check out Ding Darling down in the Sanibel area.

 

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn_ding_darling/

 

Sanibel is also well known for shell collecting but the locals get up pretty early to scour the beaches for rarities (still leaving lots of common shells). Taking the ferry boat over to Cayo Costa is a great option to walk beaches with less folks on it--with more chances of finding nice shells (some fossilized).

 

Enjoy your trip to Florida. Hope the weather cooperates for a nice trip.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[digit]

This may be of some use to you if you like fossil sea shells:

 

 

and

 

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

 

[Gizmo]

Welcome aboard! 

[Mark Kmiecik]

Welcome from Illinois.

[Bobby Rico]

[abyssunder]

Welcome to the Forum !

[Jeffrey P]

Welcome to the Fossil Forum from Southeastern New York State. I have family in Kentucky and visit there yearly. On my trips to KY I always do some fossil collecting. I just visited there last month and collected fossils at two sites in Indiana and another big site near Maysville, KY. Anxious to see what you've been finding. Happy hunting!