Neither rain, nor sleet nor snow nor lake wind advisories will deter the BPS from hitting a favorite NE Alabama site. No kidding about the snow! As we assembled in the morning at the rest area little flakes were seen drifting down. We all bundled up and headed out anyway. In spite of the weather, we had a great turnout of 24 1/2, with members coming from as far away as Atlanta and Selma to hunt trilobites on a lake in Cherokee county.

First stop was a primo site for finding brooksella and several nice pieces were found. Vicki found an unusual one shaped very much like a small starfish. "Brooksella" are believed to be the internal mold of a "primitive jellyfish", possibly from the Conasauga Fm, Dresbachian stage, late Cambrian approximately 515 million years ago. Nancy worked hard at trying to persuade Daisy the Dawg to sniff out fossils, but Daisy would rather play with Paige and search around for a squirrel or two! After experiencing the freezing wind which would almost blow one over, it was time to warm up - on to the next site.

After a timeout to repair a flat tire for Michael we took off for our 2nd site. Temps in the 40's (felt like the 30's!) and the whitecaps on the lake were a hint that maybe we should NOT go out in the boat, so we contented ourselves with the shoreline. Nevertheless, everybody found good amounts of trilobites. Steve found an exceptional trilobite specimen on a hard pebble, and Hitoshi found a beautiful stromatolite specimen. Since frostbite seemed imminent it was decided to retreat to the restaurant and get hot food and tell tales of the day and of other trips and fun. Michael and Sylvie had an exciting announcement: the arrival of baby "Elias" due in May! While we warmed our bods, Leisa was out "visiting". She met a local person who invited us to his house where he said there were trilobites behind the house, and sure enough, there were plentiful outcrops of the Conasauga Shale. (He also gave her a very nice 4 inch trilobite he had found in California - lucky lady! Just shows what happens to nice people!) Trilobites found today ranged from 1/8 inch to about 1 1/2 inches. These fossils are from the middle Cambrian Conasauga Fm. Albertan stage, and are approximately 530 million years old. Cephalon (heads), pygidium (tails), and several whole specimens of Coosella, Coosia superba, Kingstonia, Densonella, Holcacephalus, and Norwoodella were found.

Edited by Vicki Lais

(pictures courtesy Lea Martin and Vicki Lais)


At the meeting location, Greg is informing the group of the day's upcoming activities.


Greg discussing what will be found at the first site, and showing his collecting tool.




Part of the group searching for brooksella specimens. This lakeshore is composed of mostly pebbles.


Yeah... let's see.... thats Greg, and Michael, and, um, Jan, and Lea, and uh, who's that in the blue jacket?


A nice brooksella found by Vicki.


Other side of the same brooksella.


Vicki found a nice point on the beach, too.




Nancy, Daisy, and Steve surveying the lake shore.


Another unusual find, there's obviously a fossilized man under here!







Carl has decided to examine every rock in this spot.


Oops.... I'm stuck and I can't move! Dad Steve went to rescue Steven, and got stuck himself! The mud is so bad in places it will pull your shoes off.






Claire has found a nice pygidium.


A closer look at Claire's trilobite find.






Some trilobites found today.


Very nice trilobite found by Steve.


A closer look.



Hitoshi has found a very nice stromatolite specimen.


A closer look at Hitoshi's stromatolite find.


An even closer look.


Hitoshi had a good day today! Nice brooksella!


Here's most of the group getting warm and cozy. Several members decided to stay out collecting, and Leisa was out negotiating for another collecting site. Sylvie (2nd from left) announced she and Michael are expecting a new member of the family in May! Congratulations!



The lakeshore at the 3rd site of the day was mostly Conasauga shale, much of it already weathered out and broken into tiny pieces.




Nice outcrop of shale, and a trilobite found on a pebble.


When the shale is split, numerous trilobites are exposed.


Each dark spot is a small trilobite.




A nice outcrop of Conasauga shale.


Leisa found a rock that appears to be worked, probably a scraper.


A pretty ending to a fine day of collecting!

Another trip not put off for "rain, nor sleet, nor snow etc." Near-freezing temperatures, 100% chance of rain, an overcast sky and icy drizzle to begin the day were all on the menu at the BPS field trip in February to strip-mine sites in Bibb and Shelby county. To give you an idea of what we decided to brave, our host at our first stop, an active coal washing site, didn't show up until we called him, because he thought that nobody in their right mind would be out there! Well, you know, as Nancy remarked, "Once you start finding things, you forget how cold you are!" And this from somebody wearing a "Teenage ninja fossil-hunter suit." Of course, all were outfitted in attractive hard-hats, an MSHA requirement for visits to active mining sites. Just try keeping those on while bending over to find bits and pieces of neat stuff!!! Next time, we should bring little elastic strings to hold them on! Perhaps we should have been wearing them on the parts of our anatomy most-often turned towards the sky!

So, there were the most hard-core of the BPS'ers, happily finding plenty of plant fossils. Our first site was at a coal washing facility, where a variety of plant material was found, including numerous stem impressions, casts, and parts of tree ferns. Excited cries, of "Wow, look at this one!" made it hard to leave for the next site, an abandoned mine a few miles back in the woods, but, the word that we could lose the hardhats, among other attractions, won the gang over.

The second site was in the boonies, even for that area of the state, way down a long dirt road through the woods, through a locked gate, near where a prison used to house people who were busting rocks against their will, so to speak. This second site was very prolific, and members found tree ferns, calamites, and a few tree fern seeds. Some very nice specimens were found, including new "doorstops" for some members.

It was decided to move on to a third site, but the road was too muddy for us to drive up to it. This must be a good place, though, because at least one nice specimen was found near the entrance: a beautiful little silhouette of lacy fern leaves from so very long ago.

One more stop, to look at a site containing remains of bark impressions and calamites casts. There were some nice tree fern specimens in very fragile, easily crumbled rock. A number of fossils were in rocks too large to lug home, and our hands were too frozen, anyhow! Then we finally decided it was time to think about heading home for hot baths, hot laundry, hot food and a nice, long rest. Maybe our next trip will be graced with sunshine and gentle breezes!

--Edited by Vicki Lais

(photos courtesy Vicki Lais)





Some of the group on top of a spoil pile.


Greg demonstrating how to get the fossil out safely without taking home the entire rock.




Small balls of iron ore used in the ironmaking process. These apparently date to the 1940's and 50's when coal mines in the area were in full force and trains carried various materials between the mines and the steel plants.





Bill searching for more fossils.


At our second site, many of the rocks were red rather than gray. This was due to the rocks being "burned" at some time in the past, perhaps with a smouldering coal fire.


Nice "tree fern" seed fossil found by Greg.




Leisa helping identify the fossil Ryan has found.










Ryan has found a nice fossil.


A closer look at the calamites Ryan has found.







Stigmaria (roots of a Lycopod, possibly Lepidodendron)














Nice fern, possibly Sphenopteris.


Calamites stem cast.


Probably Stigmaria, a lycopod root.


Calamites stem cast.



Tree fern outer stem covering and fern-like leaves, probably Sphenopteris.


A hash of leaves and stems.


Calamites stem cast.


Nice calamites stem.

Edited by Vicki Lais

This May found the troops encamped in Lowndes County for a whole weekend of fossils and good company. Tents, camping vans, pop-up trailers all turned out for the great weekend of food, hunting and sleeping out thanks to the generosity of the hunting camp. Our hosts supplied rides out to gullies and a creek on their property via ATV’s and trailers. Even Sylvie made the bumpy ride out to the creek, although some of us did do a quick, quiet poll as to who knew how to deliver a baby or how long it would take to make it to the nearest medical facility, JUST IN CASE she hit one bump too many! We had a great crowd, and some excellent specimens of fossil crabs, shells, ammonites and various teeth were found. After a long day of collecting, we gathered around a roaring fire for a low country shrimp boil and good conversation. Everyone seemed to be demonstrating that everything does taste better outside! Michael and Sylvie had left early, Sylvie declaring that she was now ready to go home and have a baby!

Even the rainstorm that burst on us Sunday morning didn’t dampen spirits. Sleeping with the rain pounding down while you are warm, dry and cozy is one of life’s lovelier experiences! The early risers gathered under one of the many “porch” shelters in the camp and revved up the little propane stoves to make breakfasts of pancakes, cereal, coffee, tea...all the comforts of home, but more fun. Finally, all but the most dedicated decided to call it a day and head home. Nancy left a few of her belongings behind, so Vicki and Martha decided to return them via Selma, wait out the storm and do a little more looking around before heading back.

It was great to see so many of us, old and new members AND guests, turning out for all or most of the weekend. THANK you to our hosts for making us feel so welcome and providing all the facilities. Also thanks to our hosts, and to Shannon and Jim for providing vehicles and trailers, and to Vicki and everybody who helped organize the weekend and the shrimp boil!

This month we were collecting in the Ripley Formation, Cretaceous Period, Maastrichtian Age. According to information published by George Martin, Soil Data Quality Specialist with the USDA, most (if not all) of the crabs found on the trip are Avitelmessus grapsoideus Rathbun, or “Muffin Crabs.” These crabs have been documented from the Ripley Formation in Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Along with crabs, members also found numerous teeth, including mosasaur, sawfish, swordfish, and various types of shark teeth. Also found were numerous shells and pieces of ammonite.

--Edited by Vicki Lais

(Photos courtesy Jan Novak and Vicki Lais)


A long drive by ATV, then a short hike to the gully.


The gully where we began the day.


Greg has just given instructions on "how to collect in a gully", so everyone is being very cautious and searching carefully.


This is a rather small gully, with very little chance of getting lost here. Gullies in the Ripley are very unusual.


Sometimes it was easier and more productive to just sit in one spot and let one's eyes get accustomed to the patterns.


The gully is littered with numerous pieces of broken shell, nodules and sometimes fish and shark teeth.


Loni's grand-daughter has found a sawfish tooth.




Lea has found the bottom part of a bivalve, possibly exogyra.


Shannon has found a new use for our logo patch - his son John's backpack.


Melanie has found . . . something . . . .


Tooth from a late Cretaceous swordfish, probably Protosphyraena.






Sylvie has found part of a crab leg.




Small fragment of ammonite showing the tell-tale intricately patterned suture marks, which distinguish it from a nautiloid.




Mosasaur tooth.


A variety of shark teeth, and the long upper left one is a swordfish tooth.


After a really hot morning, we returned to camp for lunch and a group picture. Uhh.... where's Claire, did we leave her??





Members spread out to search the creek bottom and banks. Some go upstream, some go downstream.


Nice crab. Note the dark gray clay. It is quite slippery in the creek and along the shore.




Some nice crabs.


An odd round item found by Vicki.


A closer look at the "round thing".


Rychard has found a nice deer skull, recent, not a fossil.


Back in camp, the food fun starts! Members and guests enjoyed a fine low country shrimp boil, with head chef Greg Mestler. Numerous members contributed to its preparation and its disappearing act!

THIS JUST IN ! ! SYLVIE AND MICHAL ARE THE PROUD PARENTS OF ELI MRUG ! Born May 23, 2006.

A relatively small group of BPS members went to a creek in Montgomery County for today's trip - could it be some people were scared off by the thoughts of 95 degree weather in the sweltering sun? To get an idea of our weather, go to your bathroom, turn the shower on the hottest it will go, close the door so steam can build up, turn off the A/C, then take your laptop in there and view our trip photos - you will have a good idea of our day! Leisa brought her canoe, and she and Claire floated/pushed/dragged it upstream and then back down. This late Cretaceous site once again yielded numerous echinoids and ammonites, though most of the ammonites could only be "collected" via photos, due to their fragile composition. We also found huge quantities of shells, a few shark teeth, a couple of mosasaur vertebra, two large vertebra, possibly shark, and pyritized coprolites.

Several people decided to call it a day after getting too hot for comfort. After a refreshing afternoon lunch in an air conditioned restaurant, the die-hards brains began coming up with another potential collecting site in Elmore county. Since we have a canoe, lets go look for petrified wood. Now understand, we had one canoe, one paddle, 3 life jackets and 4 people to go on this escapade. After a quick stop at the local discount store for an additional paddle and PDF, we scouted access points. The put-in we decided on was steep. Really steep. Really really steep. But we finally got it down the several hundred feet to the water, only to find a boat wasn't necessary, the water was low, the shore was easily walkable, and petrified wood was everywhere. So we collected it (ask Jan how much his pack weighed!), took some pictures of a tree that was about 4 feet in diameter, and noticed it was getting darker. And windy. And there was thunder. And lightning. And lots of cold rain (boy, did it feel good!) And we had the canoe at the bottom of a huge hill. But Leisa, resourceful as ever, had a plan; just hook the boat to her van, and pull it out.

(photos courtesy Vicki Lais)

Yesterday's exhibit setup was fun, but indoors. Several people wanted to go on a field trip in spite of the hot weather and the fact they had an opportunity to get their "fossil fix" for the month yesterday. The small group that was able to come on such short notice split into two so that more areas could be scouted. One group in a canoe had lots of good luck with some great finds (seems Vicki had been to this site years ago, and remembered a stash of permineralized wood hidden in a very inaccessible location), while the other group drove off to try and locate additional access points, without success. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. To complete the day properly, some of us went home the long way, via the Wetumpka astrobleme. Another great day in Alabama!

(all photos on this page courtesy Vicki Lais)

Large tree on the shore.








Leisa checking out the clay embankment.


Parts of the shore were very slick clay/chalk material, and was quite colorful in places.




Leisa and Jan searching the opposite shoreline.



Most of the shoreline was quite rocky. Many of these pieces are broken up pieces of permineralized wood, but either lacking detail, or too heavy to lug back up the hill to the cars.


Leisa looking through the 1000's of rocks for that special specimen.


Leisa found some schist, with tiny garnets embedded it it.




David and Becky check out the astrobleme site.


Layers that were heaved into the "wrong" sequence when the meteor hit.

Edited by Vicki Lais

--Edited by Vicki Lais