Morgan
March 13, 2004 - Mississippian Fossils, Morgan Co, AL
We began our field trip for this month at a quarry in Jefferson County,
to view specimens in
the quarry classroom. Then we caravaned to the collecting
site
in Morgan Co, AL (except Vicki, who was talking so much to Bill and
Adelle that she
failed to see everyone else passing her on the interstate ...)
to view specimens in
the quarry classroom. Then we caravaned to the collecting
site
in Morgan Co, AL (except Vicki, who was talking so much to Bill and
Adelle that she
failed to see everyone else passing her on the interstate ...)
We had a wonderful day of collecting, beautiful weather and
great turnout.
We went to a new spot in the quarry, in addition to the site from last
year. Collecting is in the Mississippian Period (340-310
mya), in
a very hard limestone. Every member had great finds,
including
crinoids (including arms and calyxes), blastoids, brachiopods, coral,
and sharks teeth (believe it or not!). Proper prep work will
make
these specimens stand out beautifully.
(Photos
courtesy Steve Corvin, Bill Cunningham, Vicki Lais)
We're
ready!
Inside education building, viewing
the display.
View
of the
Tarrant quarry.
BPS
members searching in the boulder piles.
Was it worth all the searching? We think
so. Nice crinoid.
Rock filled with crinoids and blastoids found by Vicki. Click rock for larger image.
Typical fossils found at this site.
March 29, 2003 - Morgan and Lawrence Co, AL
This month, BPS visited the "education center" of a
local
Jefferson County quarry, where school children are taught about quarry
operations in a nice building with a great view of the quarry, and a
small
working model of the conveyor activity. Inside, there were
numerous
fossil displays exhibiting fossils from many of their quarry locations
around the south. Upon seeing several whole crinoids on
display,
we were practically drooling to get going on the collecting
trip.
The group then drove to a quarry in Morgan County, Alabama.
This
was a site where no one had collected before, other than quarry
personnel,
and what a fine group of specimens were found! Large
blastoids,
crinoids,
horned coral, and archimedes were our primary finds. At least
6
whole
crinoids were found, and the excitement of the members upon finding yet
another of these wonderful specimens was very exciting! Due
to
the
unusually chilly, overcast weather as compared to the prior few weeks,
no rattlesnakes were spotted, though our leader said he had encountered
4 of them last summer.
(Photos
courtesy Ron
Beerman, Bill
Cunningham, Greg Mestler & Vicki Lais.)
Several whole crinoids were found on the trip; this one by Vicki.
Several BPS members diligently searching the spoil piles.
Greg dissolved a slab of limestone he took home and found these
crinoids
inside.
Numerous blastoids, crinoid parts, and horned coral were found.
Crinoids found by Jan and Claire.
Found by Ron.
Found by Bill.
The view from the collecting site.
Outcrop of rugosa coral.
Found by Ron.
Bill and Adele in foreground, Leisa in background.
Looking
in all the cracks and crevices.
More of Ron's finds.
Our third stop of the day was at a roadcut in
Lawrence County,
Alabama,
where numerous specimens of rugosa coral, including whole coral heads
the
size of boulders, were found. There was even a small
cave-like
cavity
in the ground that had been uncovered, where one could peer in and see
a small, undisturbed area of coral in place. Both collecting
sites
were in the Bangor Limestone.
More rugosa coral, from the second site of the day.