ptychodus tooth
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 . . .
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!
August 20, 2005 - Eocene Fossils, Covington and Cretaceous Fossils, Montgomery Co, AL
What a
hot, humid day this was! According to weather
reports, the temperature hit 97 where we were collecting, and there was
virtually no shade. The first site we visited in
Covington county was a real dud, for multiple reasons. We
knew
there would be a "constant steady discharge" due to some future plans
at the
dam. However, we didn't anticipate this discharge would raise
the
water level 3-4 feet above normal! This meant our normal
collecting areas were underwater, way underwater, and we weren't
prepared to scuba dive. We spent a short period of time
collecting the few shells, teeth, and horned coral found in the banks,
and
getting hot and sweaty, then left early for our second site in
Montgomery county. Much
better collecting at this site! Members found a good number
of
shark teeth, ptychoda teeth, ammonites, and two unique finds, part
of a turtle, and another item that we haven't seen from this site
before, which is still being identified. According
to Vice President Greg Mestler, in
the late 1980's on another BPS field trip to this site, he found
mosasaur
skull bones in the same area where we found the turtle.
Hmmmm.......
hot, humid day this was! According to weather
reports, the temperature hit 97 where we were collecting, and there was
virtually no shade. The first site we visited in
Covington county was a real dud, for multiple reasons. We
knew
there would be a "constant steady discharge" due to some future plans
at the
dam. However, we didn't anticipate this discharge would raise
the
water level 3-4 feet above normal! This meant our normal
collecting areas were underwater, way underwater, and we weren't
prepared to scuba dive. We spent a short period of time
collecting the few shells, teeth, and horned coral found in the banks,
and
getting hot and sweaty, then left early for our second site in
Montgomery county. Much
better collecting at this site! Members found a good number
of
shark teeth, ptychoda teeth, ammonites, and two unique finds, part
of a turtle, and another item that we haven't seen from this site
before, which is still being identified. According
to Vice President Greg Mestler, in
the late 1980's on another BPS field trip to this site, he found
mosasaur
skull bones in the same area where we found the turtle.
Hmmmm.......
Once again, the group ended the day with a fine opportunity
to hang out
together at The Swamp, a kinda - sorta local eatery (only 20 minutes
away, huh, Greg?) where we stayed way too long,
but enjoyed the time spent with fellow fossil hounds.
(Pictures
courtesy Jan Novak and Vicki Lais.)
Searching
for shells, teeth and horned coral in the clay
banks.
Note how high the water is behind us.
The
water was very high, severely impacting our collecting.
Sylvie is walking in a spot that is normally dry. Even the
island
is flooded.
In spite of the high water, some nice shark and ray teeth were found.
Shells in matrix. They are very fragile and crumble easily,
so
are difficult to collect whole.
Ok,
this isn't very productive, on to the next site!
At
our second site, the water was high so a safety rope was necessary.
The
site is cretaceous. Each layer has a unique set of
fossils.
Searching
for echinoids and shark teeth.
Greg explaining proper excavation techniques.
Ron found an unusual heart-shaped item which turned out to be a disk
from a dear vertebra. It is very light-weight and recent, not
a fossil.
Fragments
found here are still being identified. Look just
above
the yellow handle to see the first "rocks", then straight to the
left. There are some more fragments in the upper right
quadrant. Some are probably turtle.
Closer
view.
Greg
has exposed more fragments, probably turtle.
James
had an opportunity to practice making a protective plaster jacket.
Nice
ammonite found by James.
Rychard carefully excavates an ammonite.
A
close-up view of a ammonite found by Rychard.
close-up view of a ammonite found by Rychard.
Tracks
of a recent visitor, a large alligator . . .
Paige,
get out of the water, you look just like gator bait!
Ron's
other interest is gold panning, and he gave some of us a demo,
using gold bearing material he found in Georgia.
Greg,
turn around! They told me to quit taking pictures of
people's rear ends!
What a group of tired, sweaty people. So where do
we go to cool
off and relax a while?
The
Swamp, of course! Our favorite restaurant on the Alabama
River.