08-08-17-vl-burrow-3091
Distinctive burrow internal molds, probably made by ghost shrimp, were common in the gully.
Distinctive burrow internal molds, probably made by ghost shrimp, were common in the gully.
After
rounding up the gang (which is a minor miracle in itself!), we hiked
back
to our vehicles for lunches, then headed for the
creek.
Finally, time to get wet and cool off! Out with the sieves,
from
collander baskets to "real" geology sorters, to home made wood-sided
screens. At least a dozen ptychodus teeth turned
up - Claire may be the "winner" on these, she had found 6 at last
count. Every screen we searched
had several shark teeth, and other fossils were also
found, including a large fish vertebra, gastropod steinkerns
(internal molds), worm tubes, and one very nice arrowhead. We
left relatively early (hey, some of us would have stayed til dark if we
could have!), and many of us stopped by a famous BBQ joint to continue
the fun and fossil discussion.
--Edited by Vicki Lais
(photos courtesy Bob Stewart,
Steve Corvin and Vicki Lais)
James Lamb gives a refresher talk on rules about collecting at museum sites,
BPS ethics, and landowner restrictions.
Typical Greene
County, Alabama chalk gully.
James Lamb explaining gully collection techniques.
Even
the younger members had fun.
Flipper
bone of a Tylosaurus found by James Lamb.
Many
"pieces" are scattered throughtout the gully, and according to James Lamb, they are all fossils.
Small
piece of turtle shell found by Bob.
Some
typical fossils found in chalk gullies - one finds hundreds of worm
tubes, and only a few shark teeth.
Shark
teeth are "normal" to find in gullies, but Sylvie found one whose
size is truly spectacular for these gullies!
Large
ammonite section found by Vicki.
Mosasaur
vertebra found by James Lamb (right beside Vicki's foot, darn it!)
Fish
vertebra.
Nice
mosasaur tooth.
Another
piece of ammonite.
Small
mosasaur vertebra found by Leisa as we were leaving the gullies
"Everybody just stepped right over it or passed it by without noticing".
After
lunch we headed to the creek to screen for teeth and whatever else we
might find.
One
of the many ptychodus teeth found in the creek.
Typical
finds after washing the sand/mud from the gravel - notice the shark
teeth and the piece of bone.
Another
load of "pay dirt" - fish vertebra, shark teeth, ptychodus
tooth.
Closer
shot of the fish vertebra.
Nice
internal mold of a gastropod.
A
laid back group, keeping cool, having fun. There were various
groupings of people all along the creek - some went upstream, some went
downstream. James Lamb is collecting material to be used in an
upcoming exhibit at McWane Science Center.
How
many shark teeth can you see in this picture?
Sample
of teeth found by Bob.
Wesley
found a very nice point.
Headed
home after a wonderfully pleasant day of collecting!