Greene
July 21, 2007 - Cretaceous Fossils, Greene Co, AL
A very large group of 31 people showed up for the July BPS trip to Greene county. Thanks to James Lamb, our trip leader this time, we visited some Cretaceous sites that we have not visited for at least 10 years, so we were all pretty excited. The first site was a chalk gully which has produced nice mosasaur bones in years past. James Lamb gave a short training session on how to collect in chalk gullies, how to walk around in them (slowly and gently), how to collect (when you find something, look up-hill to see if there are more), and other collecting tips. There are numerous pieces of what looks like rubble scattered throughout a gully - each piece of "rubble" is actually part of a fossil, though most of them are unrecognizable without close examination, sometimes under a microscope. James Lamb checked some areas where fossils had been found in the past, and discovered another bone, which was flagged so that it could be retrieved on the way out. Bob found a bone which turned out to be part of a turtle. Also, we found a wide variety of other fossils, including another mosasaur vertebra, a couple of mosasaur teeth, Tylosaurus flipper bone, several shark teeth, including a large one found by Sylvie. Ammonite pieces, worm tubes, burrows, a tiny fish tooth, a fish vertebra, and oyster shells were also found. One member asked James to go check some bones she had flagged; he discovered they were bones of a recent rabbit, and as he was approaching her to return the flag, he asked "Are you keeping that mosasaur vertebra there by your foot?" Well . . . She would've had she seen it first! Many fossils are light colored and blend in well with the environment. It takes time to adjust ones eyes to be able to spot them. We also discovered some fresher fish bones, leading to the conclusion that the birds who regularly raid the catfish farms have been using the gulley as their dining hall. Though we were hot and dripping wet, we were willing to stay longer, wondering what was in the next gully, and the next, and . . .
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!
March 11, 2007 - Cretaceous Fossils, Greene Co, AL
The March field trip was graced with perfect weather for playing in a creek. The morning started out pleasantly cool but was shorts and T-shirt weather by the time we got to the site.
We met at a rest area then caravaned to Greene County where we met our host who guided us to his property. We parked most of our vehicles then piled into several pickups and SUV's for the last 2 miles to the site. The site was a beautiful 80 acre parcel of high land on the Sipsey River which was underlain by late cretaceous sediment. A nice creek ran through the property and emptied into the Sipsey. The owner took us from the parking area to his camp which sits on a bluff high above the river. As we hiked to the collecting site, we observed turkey scratch marks, early blooming wild flowers, listened to woodpeckers and other birds and and then down a razor back ridge to the creek that was to be our collecting area for most of the day... a creek filled with sand and gravel bars and unknown treasures. We soon got our feet wet and split up into wandering singles and groups of hunters, assuming the bent-over position familiar to every fossil hunter. Sharks teeth were being found within moments of stepping in the creek.
Many varieties of sharks teeth were found including Otodus, Squalicorax and Ptychodus. Besides shark teeth the group found Oyster, petrified wood, fish vertebra, a mosasaur vertebra and other items of interest.
We had an "early leavers" group and an "it isn't dark yet" group; both groups stopped to enjoy dinner and continue the fossil discussions, fill their bellies, and wind down before the long drive home.
--Leisa Whitlow, Contributor
--Edited by Vicki Lais
(Photos courtest Jan Novak and Vicki Lais)
Most of the gang!
The long hike down the hill to the creek.
Are you sure we're supposed to go here, Aunt Mel?
The creek was quite low, and shark teeth were immediately found.
Start 'um early, and they love fossils for life! (Or maybe it's just the rock throwing . . .)
The easy way to hunt fossils . . .
Mosasaur vertebra.
A perfect outing for our future paleontologist!
What did you find, young lady? A nice collection of shark teeth, ptychodus teeth, petrified wood, coral, and pretty pebbles.
Quite a few oyster shells were found.
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Appears to be a tiny crocodile scute.
Nicely preserved worm tube.
More shark teeth.
Not sure what this is, any ideas?
Another unidentified fossil.
Tiny fish vertebra.
Decisions, decisions.. . . Do we want to collect in those gullies over there, or head out for supper? How about both?
March 19, 2005 - Cretaceous Fossils, Greene Co, AL
BPS members and guests met in the parking lot of the rest area for a show and tell session prior to the fossil outing. Weather was fine, but as we got closer to our site, the rain started. After a drizzly start, the weather cleared, and it ended up being a great day. Surface collecting, or digging in one spot in the pea gravel, everyone found numerous shark teeth, several ptychodus teeth, fish vertebra, turtle shell, and a mosasaur vertebra. Another piece of bone found is likely part of a plesiosaur. The trip out on a slick muddy road was almost as exciting as the collecting!
(Photos courtesy Steve Corvin and Vicki Lais.) 
Getting to know you . . .
Checking out the show and tell.
No, it didn't come from last months Cherokee County trip, dang it!
Even the Easter Bunny came!
Arrival at the collecting spot (+ Steve, behind the camera!)
Some of Steve's finds.
Bobby and grandson Noah.
Lea and Paige, dilligently searching for more shark teeth. What's in your bucket, Paige?
Some of Paige's finds.
Carl and grandson Daniel, enjoying the day.
Claire, Leisa, and Bill. Notice the variety of "tools" being used.
Ramsey and Sarah came prepared!
Marjorie examining a recent find. What's in your bucket?
Some of Marjorie's finds. Nice fish vertebra.
Len and Daniel, way down the creek.
An untouched stretch of sand and gravel bars, no footprints in sight. All Right!!
Mosasaur vertebra found by Vicki, this makes 3, one per trip! Nice find!
Bone is about 5 inches long along the longest side, possibly plesiosaur. (Vicki plans to call it a plesiosaur until someone convinces her otherwise!)
Steve and Steve, with some of their finds.
Closer view of Steve and Steve's finds.
April 17, 2004 - Cretaceous and Pleistocene Fossils, Greene Co, AL
This creek site in Greene County, AL is characterized by large quantities of pea gravel, filled with numerous shark teeth, and the occasional mosasaur vertebra. Going east along the creek one is in Pleistocene age material, while going west moves one through an area of Mooreville Chalk (Cretaceous).
A number of teeth from the Goblin shark and crow shark were found by all. (See the July, 2003 trip report for details on these sharks, and more on the geology of this site.)
(Photos courtesy Vicki Lais)
Ann and her bag of treasures.
Nancy showing off her ptychodus tooth.
Vicki dumped her bag to show what she had collected so far. A number of shark teeth, some in matrix, bone fragments, and several "interesting unknowns".
How many hours do you think Claire and Ann can do this?
A small canyon that proved interesting. A little out of the picture one can see the strata where the teeth and pea gravel have been deposited in the bank.
Climbing down into the canyon. (they keep telling me to quit taking pictures of rear ends....)
Lisa, with Jan and Bobby in the background. Steve was always somewhere way up the creek or way down the creek, and managed to totally avoid the camera.