February 5, 2005 - Cambrian Fossils, Cherokee Co, AL
This year we decided on a boat trip to a new, uncollected area of the lake, where everyone found a plentiful supply of trilobites. The water level was up higher than expected, due to the recent rain, but the area where we collected had a very wide beach, so the water level was not an issue. Shown in the pictures are the best samples, though there were numerous specimens of tiny trilobites, no more than 1/4 inch long, and some rocks were covered with these small ones (ask Clare how much a 5 gallon bucket of rocks weighs!). Though there was shale covering the ground in many locations, we focused on collecting nodules. This site is from the middle Cambrian Conasauga Fm. Albertan stage, approximately 530 million years old. Cephalon (heads), pygidium (tails), and several whole specimens of the following were found: Coosella, Coosia superba, Kingstonia, Densonella, Holcacephalus, and Norwoodella. Also found were a number of "Brooksella" which 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.
Late in the day, some of the diehards in the group proceeded to another site we checked out last year, to see if more of the larger triloibites (possibly Tricrepicephalus) had weathered out. Alas, the water level was too high, and all we collected were shots of the rock formations, and a great sunset. What a pleasant way to end the day!
(pictures courtesy Lea Martin and Vicki Lais)
Most of the group, waiting on the rest of the crew in the parking lot.
Paige's mom (Lea) made pouches with the BPS logo to collect the finds of the day.
Hanging out at the boat ramp, and of course everyone has to search, just in case. Paige did find a nice trilobite, almost whole, see the "hands" picture below, the 3rd hand down on the left.
On the way again with Captain Steve . . .
Claire and Nancy hoping to spot the "big one"!
Nancy found a nice brooksella!
Everyone scattered along the shoreline after we landed.
So many rocks to turn over, so little time!
Greg and Paige.
Paige and Nancy show off their brooksella specimens.
Wide but muddy shoreline provided lots of collecting space.
Leisa found several brooksella.
Various members found some nice specimens throughout the day.
With so many rocks, the trilobites are difficult to spot.. Look closely in the center.
Wished I had lined everyone up, Claire's boots are relatively clean at the end of the day! Note the small pieces of shale covering the ground, there was so much, it was almost like a carpet in places. We collected very few fossils in this thin shale, it is very fragile and difficult to transport without crumbling, and there were plenty of nodules to examine.
Vicki with her bag of rocks (and many more pounds in the backpack!)
Leisa, Steve, and Greg get ready to head back, after a very nice day of collecting.
The prize of the day goes to Greg, who found this wonderful specimen on the scouting trip.
Same specimen from a different angle.
Specimens after cleaning. The shine is from a protective coating of Elmer's Glue and water solution.
More samples shiny with protective glue.
Thanks, guys, it was a fun trip!
We must fill our bellies before that long trip home! The food and company were excellent!
A few members went to another site to check for larger trilobites, but the water level covered the collecting area. Instead, we studied the geology.
This interesting bluff shows where the river has deposited layers in smooth bands over thousands of years.
We have been told these are snail attachment points. The odd marks cover many of the rocks in the area.
A beautiful sunset to end the day!
